Marawi mayor appeals for government reinforcements

MANILA, Philippines — The mayor of Marawi City appealed on Tuesday night to government authorities for support as clashes between government troops and insurgent fighters injured six military personnel.

Majul Gandamra, Marawi City mayor, told CNN Philippines that no government reinforcements had arrived despite the assurances from military and police officials that security troops were already on their way.

“[W]e need the support of the military and the PNP. We cannot do it alone, ma’am,” he told anchor Pia Hontiveros.

Gandamra, whose voice was cracking with tension and urgency, appealed to the government to give the security situation in Marawi City more attention as he warned that it could easily go out of hand.

“According to them, assistance from, the government troops are on their way. Until now, ngayon at wala ng ilaw at wala pa rin I am appealing to the higher ups to bigyan ito ng attention. At alam ko na binibigyan ng attention pero hindi po ito dapat pabayaan,” the mayor said.

He said that in some areas the military and the police did not have any presence.

The clashes are happening as President Rodrigo Duterte and his senior government officials are on an official visit to Moscow in an attempt to put more muscle into his so-called “independent foreign policy.”

Together with Duterte in Russia are Armed Forces chief Eduardo Año and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Gandamra said that he had already spoken to the brigade commander of the area, and the military officer had assured him that government help would be provided.

Gandamra, who has expressed concern over the situation, said that he would be staying at the city hall to prevent the Maute Group fighters from entering the government facility. He warned the group that he and his men did not know what would happen should the insurgent fighters attempt to enter the government building.

'Help on the way'

The mayor also reported that the governor of Lanao del Sur had also promised him that police and military officers were already being sent after he had coordinated with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“But kanina po kaninang medyo maliwanag pa at nandito ako sa city hall ay merong mga helicopter na dumadaan dito malapit sa city hall. I went home and then I went back dito sa city hall dahil ina-anticipate ko po na baka pasukin nila at baka kung anong ilagay nila na kung anu-ano and of course we cannot allow that,” the mayor said.

Social media reports show that the Marawi City jail is on fire although this has yet to be independently confirmed. Roads to Marawi City have been closed.

WATCH: Nat'l Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. reacting to Marawi incident here in Moscow @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews (pool video) pic.twitter.com/6ReLsXLxQn

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) May 23, 2017

'Government has control of situation'

On Tuesday afternoon, security forces and members of the Maute Group clashed in Marawi City, sending resident fleeing for safety.

The AFP insisted that it was government forces who initiated a “surgical operation” after receiving reports that the Abu Sayyaf subleader Isnilon Hapilon and some of his fighers were in the city.

Last year, reports said that Hapilon brought some of his Abu Sayyaf insurgents to Marawi City to allegedly join the Maute Group. — with a report from Alexis Romero