EDDIE BARRITA:

The shabu stash was found in a house used by the terrorists as cover in clashes with government troops

Barrita looks into the military’s claims that “shabu” is keeping the holed up Maute terrorists in Marawi City “tenacious,” even though their numbers are being decimated. The recovery of 11 1-kilogram packs of shabu worth some P250 million last Sunday night only confirms their suspicions. Barrita wonders if the Maute terror group gunmen will continue to put up fierce resistance after losing their drug stash. Troops had observed that the terrorists “were suicidal and appeared to be drug-crazed.”

Amilitary official on Monday said “shabu” is keeping the Maute terrorists holed up in Marawi City tenacious despite their dwindling numbers, slowing the advance of government troops.

Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, the Army’s 1st Infantry Division spokesman, said troops have observed that the terrorists were suicidal and appeared to be drug-crazed.

This makes the military operation to flush out the terrorists an extension of the war on drugs.

Herrera said the military reached the conclusion about the terrorists’ use of shabu after they recovered on Sunday evening 11 pieces of 1-kilogram packs of shabu worth some P250 million.

The shabu stash was found in a house used by the terrorists as cover in clashes with government troops.

We’d soon find out if the terrorists will continue their siege after their shabu supply was seized.

Capt. Eric Estrevillo, 49th Infantry Battalion civil-military officer, said the Maute terror group gunmen held the house for about a week and put up fierce resistance before troops captured it on Sunday.

“The gunmen appeared to be very energetic and high on drugs,” Estrevillo said.

Let’s hope the siege would soon flounder without their shabu fuel.

Maute and Abu Sayyaf snipers are using highrise buildings and mosques to stage attacks. The terrorists were also using drones to determine the position of advancing government troops.

Soldiers have shot down several of the terrorists’ drones.

The military must also have drones of their own so this would become the war of the drones.

People in Iligan City have been swapping jokes on social media, in text messages or on the streets, by claiming to be a Maute.

Among them are “Ako Mauteglaba (I do the laundry),” “Ako Mautegluto (I do the cooking),” “Ako Mautegsilhig (I sweep the floor).”

But a military official has one caveat. Never crack these jokes at checkpoints. Any misunderstanding could be deadly.