Press Release
June 5, 2019

On Eid'l Fitr, De Lima urges gov't to speed up Marawi rehabilitation

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has expressed solidarity with our Muslim brethren here and abroad in their blessed observance of Eid'l Fitr which marks the end of the month-long fasting during Ramadan today, June 5.

De Lima said she hopes that the meaningful occasion should prompt the government to expedite its long-delayed rehabilitation of the war-torn Islamic City of Marawi to improve the plight of its residents badly displaced by the military operations.

"We are one with Muslim communities around the world on the observance of Eid'l Fitr. Kasabay ng pagdiriwang na ito ang sama-sama nating panalangin at panawagan na agarang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga lugar na naipit sa karahasan at kaguluhan gaya ng Marawi," she said.

"Makalipas nga po ng dalawang taon, kitang-kita pa rin ang mukha ng pagkawasak sa siyudad. Libo-libo pa rin nating mga kababayan ang hanggang ngayon ay walang mauwiang tahanan, nagsisiksikan sa mga tent, at wala pa ring katiyakan na makababalik sa normal at marangal na pamumuhay," she added.

In its report last May 22, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed that over 100,000 people affected by the Marawi siege have remained homeless and unable to return to their homes, some of them are living in nets.

Among the issues that they were reportedly encountering include problems in getting potable water, sustainable livelihood, and most especially permanent shelters.

In protest of their dire situation, several residents of Marawi City have recently staged a rally to demand an immediate return to their homes even as they lamented their plight of living in tents and temporary shelters for more than two years.

The lady Senator from Bicol said the Duterte administration should give priority to the interests of the Muslim Filipinos in Marawi City by properly and judiciously using the government funds as well as local and foreign donations allotted for its rehabilitation.

"Sa halip na magpabaya at iasa sa iba, pangunahan sana ng gobyerno ang mabilis na rehabilitasyon ng Marawi pati na ang paglalatag ng oportunidad para sa mga kapatid nating Maranao," she said.

"Sa halip na magparatang nang walang basehan, nawa'y gamitin nang tapat ang nakalaang pondo ng gobyerno, kasama na ang ayuda mula sa ibang bansa, upang makabangon ang mga komunidad na winasak ng kaguluhan," she added.

The holy month of Ramadan is spent by Muslims by abstaining from eating food, drinking liquids, smoking, engaging in sexual relations, among others, from dawn until sunset.

De Lima maintained that its culmination, the celebration of Eid'l Fitr, "serves as a testament to the indomitable faith and discipline of our brothers and sisters in Islam, as they fulfill their religious duty."

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