More bomb experts deployed in Marawi

The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday ordered the deployment of additional bomb experts in Marawi City as the government wraps up its operations against Maute terrorists.

The move is in compliance with President Duterte’s directive to prevent casualties as government forces clear the area of improvised explosive devices that could have been planted by the terrorists.

Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, PNP directorate for operations head, said he directed the Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD)/ K9 Group to send their personnel to Marawi.

Senior Superintendent Remedio Gregorio, who heads the EOD/K9 Group, said they have 23 bomb experts and six K-9 dogs.

Gregorio said their bomb experts, many of whom underwent training in the United States, are equipped and ready for the job.

Military officials said the fighting in Marawi is expect- ed to end soon, noting that remnants of the Maute terror group are running low on food and ammunition. The fighting entered its 100th day on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, an all-female unit of police and military personnel sent to Marawi to assist evacuees started work yesterday.

The 40 policewomen and 62 female soldiers, who arrived on Tuesday, were deployed to various evacuation centers in Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Iligan City.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said the female security personnel would focus on relief and rehabilitation.

“Having policewomen and female soldiers at evacuation sites to augment workers and volunteers attending to the needs of our displaced people is very touching. We are grateful,” Zia Alonto Adiong of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional assembly said.

John Magno, ARMM education secretary, said they are willing to accept volunteers from the female security personnel to assist evacuees studying at temporary learning centers.