THE Duterte administration has pulled out its application for a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant from the United States government since the money could not be used for the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City, a Palace official said Tuesday. The country, however, passed in other areas under the category of “Ruling Justly” namely: political rights, civil liberties, government effectiveness and freedom of information. “Still, we have invited the US government’s continued support and assistance for the reconstruction of Marawi,” Roque added. The Duterte administration has appropriated at least P17.5 billion this year for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, which fell in the hands of terrorists on May 23, forcing President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law on the same day. The five-month battle between government troops and the IS-inspired Maute group displaced over 500,000 residents, destroyed property and took the lives of hundreds of government troops, less than 100 civilians, as well as over 1,000 terrorists.

Source: Manila Times December 19, 2017 10:52 UTC