Maute snipers dragging war in Marawi: Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte has once again expressed optimism that the ongoing clash between government troops and extremist Maute Group terrorists in Marawi City will finally come to an end.

Speaking to a large crowd in Dumaguete City during Friday evening’s opening ceremonies of the Buglasan Festival of Negros Ori- ental, the President talked about terrorism, specifically what had happened in Marawi City, as he announced that “we anticipate another assault” against the Maute Group who are still holed out there.

“We are now into the fourth month of fighting but hopefully it will be soon,” said President Duterte.

He disclosed he will be going there again somehow in a few days “ug matapos na unta na” (and hopefully it will end), as he described the country’s fight against terrorism “very much like that in the Middle East”, saying that has slowed down the resolution of the Marawi City siege.

Speaking alternately in English and the Cebuano dialect, the former Davao mayor stressed that he has lost many troops because of sniper fire from the terrorists who have maintained a vantage point against government forces.“Nganong

“Nganong nadugay kay ang away diha (why has it dragged on... because the fight there) is very much like what is happening in the Middle East. Syria and Iraq are in shambles. Mosul and Aleppo, and to this day, sige pa sila ug away (the fighting continues) because there is a new development and it is urban terrorism”, Duterte pointed out.

“Nakapuwesto na sila sa mga building, ang ilang armas naa na sa underground (they have pre-positioned themselves in buildings and their arms are underground) and they have the strategic point”, he said.

“Mao ng daghan kong patay nga mga sundalo kay ang ilang mga snipers nakapuwesto ug ilang gipalibutan ang lugar tanan ug IED (that’s why a lot of soldiers were killed because their snipers have pre-positioned themselves and all areas were bordered by IEDs)”, he added.