Pimentel mulls ad hoc body for reconstruction of Marawi

Senate Pres. Aquilino Pimentel III on Thursday said that he intends to form an ad hoc Senate committee dedicated to the reconstruction of conflict-torn Marawi City.

Pimentel, a Mindanao-born senator, also urged government, non-government organizations and concerned citizens to unite in rebuilding conflict-torn Marawi City.

“The attack of the Maute group is not just against Marawi, but on the entire Philippines. Let us show them that they cannot succeed in dividing us,” Pimentel said in a press statement.

“I am calling on national government agencies, local government units, planners, donors, ordinary citizens — let’s make sure Marawi bounces back higher and better than it was before this cowardly terrorist attack,” he added.

In May, Marawi City was attacked by members of the Maute terrorist group. Based on a briefing by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Pimentel discovered that even before the siege, Marawi’s basic services were already in a poor state.

“We inoculate ourselves against the spread of terrorism if we make sure that all Filipinos are given what they deserve in terms of education, health, and other government services,” he said.

Pimentel, ad advocate of federalism, also pointed out that terrorists generally recruit among those who feel disaffected with or neglected by the central government. (Azer N. Parrocha/PNA)

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