Surgical strikes launched in Marawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – The military launched surgical airstrikes on areas where gunmen of the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute group are holding out in Marawi City, officials said yesterday.

Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, spokesman for the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said clearing operations are still underway to flush out some 40 Maute militants hiding in barangays Basak Malultlut, Bangon and Gadongan of the city.

“We launched the precision airstrike in areas where they are consolidating,” Herrera said.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson for Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the airstrikes were launched after military forces were assured there were no civilians left in the target area.

“The surgical airstrike was conducted to avoid any collateral damage,” Petinglay said.

She added troops are also closing in on areas where the militants are believed to be hiding.

“This time we have a clearer picture of what happened, compared to the first day when we cannot totally grasp or plot the locations of the other militants,” Petinglay said.

She said the militants were trying to project that they have a large force in Marawi by using social media.

“They tried to paint the scenario they have seized major areas in Marawi utilizing videos and photos spread on social media,” she added.

Petinglay said there were less than 50 Maute militants that entered Marawi City, contrary to earlier reports that hundreds took control of the city on Tuesday.

She said the troops could now pinpoint the location of the militants as civilians have voluntarily evacuated.

“Because during the first day one of the challenges is that troops cannot just penetrate the place where you believe they are because there were civilians and possible collateral damage,” Petinglay said.

Authorities said ending the crisis was proving extremely difficult because the militants were holed up in residential buildings and had planted improvised bombs in the streets, along with reports that they had taken hostages.

“People are afraid. They do not want to open establishments. Offices are closed. We do not want people to be used as human shields,” Marawi Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra said.

Military helicopters flew above Marawi and armored tanks churned through the streets in the midst of automatic gunfire.

Government troops clashed with the militants yesterday morning in the outskirts of the city. The firefight resumed in the afternoon with the troops getting air support.

Herrera added the Maute gunmen are becoming desperate as the troops are closing in on them.

“They are now conducting desperate moves by launching terroristic activities to distract our focused military actions,” Herrera said.

Officials stressed the security situation in Marawi remains fluid as fighting continued into the third day.

Five soldiers and two policemen died in the clashes, while 13 gunmen were killed, according to the military.

The policemen were identified as Senior Insp. Freddie Solar of the Gaoiran police and Senior Insp. Edwin Palacio, deputy police chief of Malabang town.

Authorities have not reported any civilian casualties but GMA television network showed images of nine people who had apparently been shot dead. The victims had their hands tied.

They were captured at a roadside checkpoint and murdered by the militants after being identified as Christians, according to the GMA reporter, citing a witness.

Fighting erupted on Tuesday after security forces raided a house where they believed Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of the infamous Abu Sayyaf, was hiding.

However, the raid went wrong as dozens of gunmen of the Maute emerged to repel the troops, then went on a rampage across the city while flying black IS flags.

The militants raided two jails, leading to the escape of more than 100 inmates. They also set fire to many buildings, including a church and a college.

The rampage forced President Duterte to declare martial law in the entire region of Mindanao on Tuesday night.

Duterte had to cut short his trip to Russia after learning that the Maute group attempted to occupy Marawi City in the same way the IS took over large areas of Syria and Iraq. – Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe, AFP