ZAMBOANGA CITY — A senior security official said it would now take only one week before the Army finishes off the remaining pro-ISIS militants holed in Marawi City.
Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said this following the defeat of the Maute group by the Marines in their designated area of operations.
“One week na lang talaga yong operation. Kasi yong area ng Marines doon tapos na kami,” Medina said.
He said the Marines are now assisting Army troops still battling dozens of Maute members hiding in mosques and concrete structures within the less than nine hectares of operations area. He said they are still battling an estimated 30 to 40 Maute fighters.
READ: 40 hostages still inside Marawi, says AFP
Medina said the Marines have offered their equipment to the Army like their B300 tanks and 90RR (recoilless rocket).
“Tumutulong na lang kami sa Army. Yong mga gamit namin ‘yong B300 with 90RR pinapahiram na namin sa Army kasi sa part ng Marines tapos na talaga,” Medina said.
He said the operation area of the Army troops remained tough due to the presence of more than 20 civilian hostages used as human shields by the terrorists.
He added, however, that there were reports indicating that most of the terrorist leaders, including Isnilon Hapilon, might have been killed already.
“We are verifying the information on the ground.”
Medina said some of the Marines like the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 would be pulled out already as they are also scheduled for re-training to provide security for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in November.
However, he said the remaining units, including MBLT 5 and MBLT7, would help finish the Maute group.
READ: Armed Forces captures key Maute base in besieged Marawi