Post by westgold on Sept 12, 2017 20:57:52 GMT 9
SOME members of the terrorist Maute Group that is fighting government forces in Marawi City have sent “feelers” they are prepared to surrender, after three-and-a-half months of fighting, the military yesterday.
The military has used loudspeakers urging the Maute men to give themselves up, telling the estimated 50 to 60 fighters left in the city their lives would be spared if they disarm, change out of their black clothes and walk to a designated location.
“Hopefully, we will have surrenderers within the next days,” Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the Task Group Ranao, told a news conference in Marawi City.
“There are feelers. Definitely, there are feelers,” he added, declining to elaborate.
President Duterte on Saturday ruled out the possibility of allowing the Maute remnants to flee in exchange for the release of dozens of hostages.
Troops were engaged in running battles with the Maute, led by Abdullah and Omarkhayam Maute of the Maute group, and Isnilon Hapilon, a factional head of the Abu Sayyaf group, and Islamic State’s so-called “emir” in Southeast Asia.
At least 20 structures were captured, many laden with booby traps. Some were commercial high-rise buildings that have been used as sniper positions to thwart government forces.
Brawner described the operations as “a big accomplishment considering the enemy established very strong defensive positions.”
While some areas of Marawi are seeing citizens return and shops and schools re-open, most of the city remains deserted. Its center is a wasteland, pummelled by daily air strikes and ground battles.
The resistance of the militants has frustrated the more than 400,000 residents displaced from the area and raised questions about how relatively few Islamists took control of the lakeside town and held significant parts of it.
“We are receiving a lot of questions: why is it taking too long for the government to recover this area?” said Brawner. “It is really difficult to do urban fighting.”
The fighting, which broke out last May 23, has resulted in the death of 655 Maute members, 145 soldiers and policemen, and 45 civilians.
The military believes about 40 to 50 Maute members are still inside the 500-square meter main battle area with about 300 structures. They are said to be holding around 30 hostages, including a priest.
In Manila, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military is expediting operations to clear Marawi City of Maute men and explosives they planted.
He declined to elaborate on the operations but said ground commanders and their troops want to finish the fight the soonest time possible.
“It’s just a balance: doing it quickly so that it does not drag on but not at the expense of the hostages’ safety,” said Padilla on the need to balance the expedited operations and the safety of hostages and soldiers.
AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año recently said the armed conflict would not last beyond his retirement on October 26, and said operations are already in the “final phase, finishing touches.”
Duterte visited Marawi yesterday, the fourth time since the conflict started.
He was accompanied by, among others, Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
Duterte again visited the troops in Marawi to check on their situation and boost their morale. He again distributed watches, relief goods, and even cigarettes which he said may be needed by some soldiers who are “under stress.”
He also visited the Grand Islamic Mosque where the Maute group had held some of its hostages, and the Mapandi Bridge, and posed for pictures with soldiers.
“Saludo ako sa inyo,” the President said during his “talk to the men” that was held after a command conference with the Joint Task Force Marawi.
Prior to the visit to Marawi, the President paid his last respects to Captain Rommel Sandoval, company commander of the 11th Scout Ranger Company, who was killed while rescuing a wounded soldier in Marawi City.
Sandoval’s body was to be flown to Manila from Cagayan de Oro City. – Victor Reyes, Jocelyn Montemayor and Reuters
www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/maute-men-sent-surrender-feelers-afp
The military has used loudspeakers urging the Maute men to give themselves up, telling the estimated 50 to 60 fighters left in the city their lives would be spared if they disarm, change out of their black clothes and walk to a designated location.
“Hopefully, we will have surrenderers within the next days,” Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the Task Group Ranao, told a news conference in Marawi City.
“There are feelers. Definitely, there are feelers,” he added, declining to elaborate.
President Duterte on Saturday ruled out the possibility of allowing the Maute remnants to flee in exchange for the release of dozens of hostages.
Troops were engaged in running battles with the Maute, led by Abdullah and Omarkhayam Maute of the Maute group, and Isnilon Hapilon, a factional head of the Abu Sayyaf group, and Islamic State’s so-called “emir” in Southeast Asia.
At least 20 structures were captured, many laden with booby traps. Some were commercial high-rise buildings that have been used as sniper positions to thwart government forces.
Brawner described the operations as “a big accomplishment considering the enemy established very strong defensive positions.”
While some areas of Marawi are seeing citizens return and shops and schools re-open, most of the city remains deserted. Its center is a wasteland, pummelled by daily air strikes and ground battles.
The resistance of the militants has frustrated the more than 400,000 residents displaced from the area and raised questions about how relatively few Islamists took control of the lakeside town and held significant parts of it.
“We are receiving a lot of questions: why is it taking too long for the government to recover this area?” said Brawner. “It is really difficult to do urban fighting.”
The fighting, which broke out last May 23, has resulted in the death of 655 Maute members, 145 soldiers and policemen, and 45 civilians.
The military believes about 40 to 50 Maute members are still inside the 500-square meter main battle area with about 300 structures. They are said to be holding around 30 hostages, including a priest.
In Manila, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military is expediting operations to clear Marawi City of Maute men and explosives they planted.
He declined to elaborate on the operations but said ground commanders and their troops want to finish the fight the soonest time possible.
“It’s just a balance: doing it quickly so that it does not drag on but not at the expense of the hostages’ safety,” said Padilla on the need to balance the expedited operations and the safety of hostages and soldiers.
AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año recently said the armed conflict would not last beyond his retirement on October 26, and said operations are already in the “final phase, finishing touches.”
Duterte visited Marawi yesterday, the fourth time since the conflict started.
He was accompanied by, among others, Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
Duterte again visited the troops in Marawi to check on their situation and boost their morale. He again distributed watches, relief goods, and even cigarettes which he said may be needed by some soldiers who are “under stress.”
He also visited the Grand Islamic Mosque where the Maute group had held some of its hostages, and the Mapandi Bridge, and posed for pictures with soldiers.
“Saludo ako sa inyo,” the President said during his “talk to the men” that was held after a command conference with the Joint Task Force Marawi.
Prior to the visit to Marawi, the President paid his last respects to Captain Rommel Sandoval, company commander of the 11th Scout Ranger Company, who was killed while rescuing a wounded soldier in Marawi City.
Sandoval’s body was to be flown to Manila from Cagayan de Oro City. – Victor Reyes, Jocelyn Montemayor and Reuters
www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/maute-men-sent-surrender-feelers-afp