MANILA, Philippines — After five weeks of fighting against local terror groups, the Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed confidence that offensive operations will be over soon and victory will be at hand.
Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, spokesman for Task Force Marawi, said that the government forces are focused and will accomplish their mission to retake Marawi City.
"Troop morale remains very high and we appeal to everyone to continue to support and pray for our troops. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is winning and that victory is irreversible," Herrera said in a televised press conference.
Militant-held areas are continuing to grow smaller as government security forces advance into the city, according to Herrera.
"Troops continue to get deeper into once enemy-held positions as evidenced by the recovery of cadavers of terrorists and their firearms, computers and peripherals as well as communication equipment and accessories," Herrera said.
Herrera, however, admitted that government forces are still facing challenges in their clearing operations against the Maute group.
The ISIS-inspired local terror group has planted improvised bombs in houses and buildings that they are ready to set fire to as government forces come near.
"Medyo challenging ito dahil every time 'yung sundalo po natin ay nag-cli-clear ng bahay o building napakarami pong bomba ang nakukuha especially those fuel bombs, LPG tanks. These are the things that are being discovered along the way of our soldier," Herrera said.
He added that the fuel bombs are planted in houses and other buildings that are being used to block the movements of government troops.
On May 23, President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao following a clash between government forces and the Maute terror group.
The armed confrontation was triggered by an operation to neutralize Abu Sayyaf subleader Isnilon Hapilon, who has since reportedly fled Marawi City.
READ: AFP: Hapilon has likely abandoned Maute group