CLARK FREEPORT – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has announced that the Marawi City siege is now over, exactly five months after fighting between government troops and ISIS-linked Maute Group started. “After 154 days of siege in Marawi with Daesh-inspired Maute-ISIS group, after a week the commander-in-chief declared the liberation of Marawi City, we now announce the termination of combat operations in Marawi City,” Lorenzana told reporters on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT“It was a big relief for the people of Marawi City, who have (long wanted) to return,” said Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra. Now the Secretary of Defense (Lorenzana) had already made the announcement so I am sure the war is over,” Gandamra noted. Lorenzana said the defeat of the terrorists in Marawi also contributed to the prevention of violent extremism from spreading in Asia.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 23, 2017 05:15 UTC