President Rodrigo Duterte is accorded with military honors prior to his departure at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City on October 29, 2017 for a two-day visit to Japan. Accompanying the President is Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Rey Leonardo Guerrero. (ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte hopes to get the “best” assistance of the Japanese government to aid the Philippines in reconstructing Marawi City, a provincial capital in southern Philippines that was devastated by almost five months of fighting between ISIS-inspired militants and government forces.
During his departure speech at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport on Sunday, October 29, Duterte said he would tell Japan “that we need their very best in their assistance.”
Japan has already donated P100 million to support the relief operations in Marawi City.
“We do not expect that Japan would solve all the problems for us. But I — I would see significant assistance, considering, I said, the dimension of the destruction,” Duterte said.
The President stressed that the failure to rehabilitate Marawi could result to grave consequences not only for Mindanao but for the entire country.
Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi City from the influences of terrorists a day after government troops killed key leaders, Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon, of the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf respectively on October 16.
“Now that combat operations have been terminated, we are rebuilding Marawi to its former glory. From its ruins, Marawi shall once again rise as the center of moderation and tolerance in Muslim Mindanao,” he said.
Duterte said his second visit to Japan, a country he considers “a true friend,” had been planned for months but was put off because of the Marawi crisis.
Duterte is expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and discuss with him strategic bilateral partnerships involving socio-economic development, peace in Mindanao and the Philippines drive to boost infrastructure growth.
“We will likewise discuss the advancement of the rule of law in the relations between [and] among nations to support greater stability and security in the region,” the chief executive said.
Duterte will also meet Emperor Akihito under whose reign, the friendship between the two nations “has grown stronger.”
The President’s first official visit to Japan in October last year earned the country $1.8 billion-worth of investments. (davaotoday.com)
