The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) held a solemn tribute to honor the bravery and resilience demonstrated by government forces during the 2017 Marawi siege on Monday, Oct. 14, at the Rizal Park in Manila.
AFP Chief of Staff, General Romeo Brawner Jr. led the ceremony in collaboration with the Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) Foundation. It was conducted ahead of the commemoration of the seventh anniversary of the conclusion of the Marawi siege on Oct. 23.
Brawner emphasized in his address the importance of honoring the memories of the fallen and recognizing the courage of those who fought to uphold peace.
The military chief also highlighted these values during the “Stop and Salute” flag-raising ceremony, which symbolized a renewed pledge of service among the troops.
“’Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y tagumpay na nagniningning,’ these words speak to the brilliance of our victories, symbolized each time our flag is raised. It embodies the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom and the enduring spirit of our nation,” said Brawner, who was one of the key commanders during the siege as the spokesperson and deputy commander of Task Force Ranao.
“Today we are reminded of our heroes' courage and collective duty to uphold the values they have fought,” he added.
On May 23, 2017, government forces engaged in a firefight with more than 1,000 local and foreign terrorists, particularly the Maute Group (MG), who aligned themselves with the Islamic State (IS) to capture Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader, Isnilon Hapilon. At the time, the military learned of a plan by the terrorist groups to establish a “wilayat” or an administrative state of IS in Mindanao.
The terror Maute Group, led by brothers Omar and Abdullah Maute, laid siege on the city with the help of ASG rebels.
Government forces liberated Marawi City from the terrorists on October 17, 2017 following the death of Hapilon and the Maute brothers. Six days later, the war had been concluded, making it the longest urban battle in the country’s history.
The death toll includes 168 government troops, 87 civilians, and 920 terrorists.