CRISIS WON’T END BEFORE SONA

AFP says it is moving ‘progressively,’ but needs 10-15 days more

The armed conflict in war-torn Marawi City will not end on the day President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 24, the military said Friday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla Jr. said the security forces are “moving progressively,” but will still need 10 to 15 days to retake Marawi City from Maute terror group.

“We are right into the 10 to 15 days of the President. But the 10 to 15 days is beyond the Sona by the way. So don’t expect it to be before the Sona,” Padilla told Palace reporters.

On May 23, Duterte placed the entire region of Mindanao under martial law after Maute militants laid siege to Marawi City.

The declaration of martial rule, which will end on July 22, aims to end insurgency in the southern Philippines.

The military has refused to impose a target date to liberate Marawi City but expressed optimism to put an end to the rebellion before Duterte’s Sona.

On Tuesday, the President asked for 15 more days to address the conflict in the besieged Marawi City.

Duterte’s pronouncement came amid calls to extend martial law in Mindanao.

Padilla refused to comment whether the security forces would recommend the lifting or extension of 60-day period of martial law in the south.

He said the assessment of martial law that will be vetted by administrator and implementor, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and AFP chief General Eduardo Año, is now on “concluding stage.”

“Right now, the assessment is on its concluding stage and will be given to [Año], who will then do his vetting on the recommendation and eventually submitted to [Lorenzana] for submission to the Commander in Chief,” Padilla said.

“The recommendation primarily is not yet done and it is the decision of the leadership. That is the basis. So whatever they decide on, for how long it will be extended, if it is extended, or if it’s lifted, the armed forces will just comply,” he added.

As of 6 p.m. of July 13, the Marawi conflict casualties include 45 civilians, 394 Islamist fighters, and 93 government troops.

Padilla said the troops are exhausting all efforts to ensure that normalcy has returned in Marawi City. /