Sniper fire snuffs out young officer’s promise to marry fiancée

MARAWI CITY – The promised wedding of First Lt. Harold Mark Juan to his fiancée will never push through after the Special Forces officer was killed by sniper fire last October 9 in the main battle area here.

This was disclosed by Col. Romeo Brawner, Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force Ranaw, who said that Juan had promised his girlfriend that he would marry her immediately after his tour of duty in Marawi.”

“Hindi na po matutuloy,” Brawner said.

As of October 10, the government has absorbed 159 fatalities, while the enemy has 776 of its forces killed. Forty-seven civilians have also perished in the hostilities.

The military official said the Maute Terror Group, which has laid siege to Marawi for more than five months, has been staunch in their resistance to the government’s assault teams.

“However, our soldiers are determined to finish this war despite the casualties,” Brawner stated.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Commander Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez told mediamen Monday that the military has set another target date – October 15 – to finally end hostilities here.

“Kayang-kaya natin na matatapos na iyong labanan, kaya na mas maaga pa,” Galvez confidently declared.

There are still about 100 structures left to be recovered, including a mosque (masqar) located along Lake Lanao.

From October 7 to 9 alone, 122 structures were cleared.