President Duterte Declares Marawi City Liberated

President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that Philippines military had liberated Marawi from its occupation by militants linked to the Islamic State during a visit to the city on Tuesday, October 17.

Speaking in both Tagalog and English during a speech to soldiers in the Bangolo district of Marawi, he praised the bravery of his military and announced the city’s rehabilitation process had begun. “Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence," he said in a video shared on the government’s official YouTube channel RTVMalacanang. “That marks the beginning of rehabilitation of the city.”

The announcement seemed premature given that journalists at the press conference reported hearing gunfire and explosions during Duterte’s speech. A military spokesman confirmed in a report from the Philippine Star that clashes with a “small number” of fighters from the Maute militant group continued on Tuesday.

The Philippines government claimed on Monday that Maute leader Omar Maute and Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon had been killed in the fighting. Government forces have been fighting to retake control of the southern Philippines city after the militants from the Islamist Maute group seized control on May 23. Credit: YouTube/RTVMalacanang via Storyful