Government troops close to retaking Marawi

MANILA, Philippines - Government security forces moved closer to ending the battle for Marawi City by retaking the police headquarters previously occupied by the Maute group.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the troops are also close to retaking the grand mosque that the terrorists have been using as main base since they occupied the city last May 23.

“The retaking of the Marawi City police station, which is highly strategic, is very significant in our ongoing operations to liberate the city,” Padilla said.

Padilla said the Maute terrorists are now left with little space to maneuver. He added that out of the 600 buildings that the terrorists have occupied in the main battle area, half have been cleared by government troops.

“Operations are still ongoing, including the clearing of the Grand Mosque,” Padilla said.

The extremists had used the Grand Mosque as well as other mosques in the city as machine gun and sniper nests.

The military said up to 50 militants are still inside the mosque, holding 46 civilians hostage.

Mosques and other places of worship were excluded from the airstrike target list by the military.

Padilla added the troops are still hunting down Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.

Hapilon, the designated Islamic State emir in Southeast Asia, is still in the area along with some of his top lieutenants, Padilla said.

Padilla explained it would not be possible for Hapilon to slip past the tight military and police security cordon thrown around the city to include the passageway in Lanao Lake to prevent any escape or reinforcement.  – With Roel Pareño