MARAWI CITY – Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte announced Tuesday the liberation Marawi from Islamic State militants following the slaying of 2 jihadist leaders in the war-ravaged city in the troubled Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Duterte, wearing a bull cap and a pair of dark sunglasses, flew to Marawi and met with soldiers in the battle zone where he announced the city’s liberation. He said rebuilding Marawi would begin soon so that tens of thousands of civilians displaced by the war since May can return home.
But despite his pronouncement, the military said sporadic fighting still continue with troops battling about 30 militants scattered in the city’s ruins. Soldiers are also searching for civilian hostages being used as shield by jihadist fighters.
Troops, backed by armoured vehicles, killed at least 9 militants, including local ISIS chieftain Isnilon Hapilon, who was also the leader of the Abu Sayyaf group; and Omar Maute, another jihadist commander, on October 16 and their bodies recovered the next day. Both men led dozens of jihadists in the siege of Marawi in an effort to put up an Islamic State province in the region.
Colonel Romeo Brawner, an army spokesman, said operations are continuing in the battle area to ensure the safety of civilians when they are finally allowed to return home in areas declared safe by the military and local government officials.
He said mopping-up operations are ongoing in the villages due to the danger posed by booby traps and improvised explosives left behind by militants.
The military also tightened security in civilian areas in the southern region, especially in Davao City – Duterte’s hometown previously bombed by ISIS – for fear that other jihadist groups and ISIS sympathizers may avenge the death of Hapilon and Maute. Security commanders appeal to the public to stay vigilant and help authorities by reporting suspicious persons in their community.
“We recognize the importance of the support coming from the populace. We therefore ask everyone to be vigilant and to report to the authorities any suspicious activities in their respective communities,” said Lieutenant General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command. (Mindanao Examiner)
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