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By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent

THE provincial government of Lanao del Sur added its voice to the growing opposition to the establishment of a new military camp in Marawi City, saying that it would only cause animosity and hostility.

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In a resolution passed Monday, the Lanao del Sur provincial board rejected the military plans to set up a new camp on top of the old City Hall in Marawi City.

“A new military camp may create animosity towards the military, offend cultural sensitivities and transgress private rights,” the board resolution reads in part.

Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. signed the board resolution of the Lanao del Sur Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Adiong and the provincial board asked President Duterte to reconsider the planned establishment of a new camp “or at least modify it.”

Task Force Bangon Marawi chair Eduardo del Rosario said the military plans to set up a 10-hectare military camp at the east side of Marawi on top of the old City Hall.

Del Rosario said the planned camp, that would house an Army battalion, would provide additional security for Marawi City to prevent a repetition of the 2017 siege when hundreds of Maute-Isis militants were able to cause trouble in the predominantly Muslim city for five months.

“There will be now two camps in Marawi. The new camp will guard the east side while the old camp where the 103rd Infantry Brigade is located will be on the west side,” del Rosario told reporters in Cagayan de Oro last week.

Del Rosario said a technical panel from the Armed Forces is now reviewing the feasibility of the new camp.

He said it would be up to the panel to approve or reject the new military camp.

Marawi residents have criticized the establishment of the new camp saying that the money that would be spent for it should be given to affected residents who have yet to return to the former “main battle area.”

Maranao groups have gathered more than 100,000 signatures from residents who signified they are against the establishment of a new camp.

Aside from the Lanao del Sur Sangguniang Panglalawigan, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and the Marawi City government also passed resolutions opposing the establishment of the military camp.

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