MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on Marawi residents to help in the pursuit of a more peaceful and secure nation by safeguarding their communities.

Año said it is the collective duty of the citizens to drive out anyone who puts the nation's peace, security, and sovereignty to the test.

He stressed that though the government has won the battle in Marawi four years ago, spoilers of peace are still lurking in the communities waiting for the opportunity to instigate chaos once again.

Año was among the Cabinet Secretaries who attended the October 16 commemoration program for the fourth anniversary of Marawi liberation to pay tribute to the 168 fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to free the city from the clutches of terrorists and to remember the innocents who lost their lives during the armed conflict.

As the country continues to face different peace and security challenges, the DILG Secretary also urged Marawi residents to take inspiration from the victory in Marawi which is a testament of Filipino patriotism and defiance against terrorism.

"Hindi man tayo isang malaki o makapangyarihang bansa ngunit handa tayong ipaglaban ang ating kasarinlan at kapayapaan hanggang sa huli dahil tayo ay naninindigan na walang puwang sa Pilipinas ang terorismo at karahasan," he said.

[We are not a big or powerful country but we are ready to fight for our independence and peace to the end because we stand that there is no room for terrorism and violence in the Philippines.]

He emphasized that the liberation of Marawi will go down in the annals of history as one of our country's proudest moments and biggest victory against terrorism.

"Even as we uphold and respect the primacy of peace, make no mistake about it, we shall remain to be a lethal force capable of destroying any threat to our nation for we will not cower in the face of lawlessness and terrorism," Año further said. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)