MANILA, Philippines — Senators yesterday pressed the government to pursue incumbent and former local officials in Marawi City and other localities in Mindanao who helped the Maute group lay siege to the city. He said the protection of some local officials and political clans was among the reasons the militants were able to survive the five-month offensive of government forces. Duterte lamented the local officials were unaware that extremists had already planned the attack. He blamed some local officials in the region who were supposedly “in cahoots” with the extremists. Poe proposed to source the P5-billion “Bangon Marawi Fund” from the 2018 budget, which is being deliberated in Congress.

Source: Philippine Star October 22, 2017 16:07 UTC