Filipino troops bombard militants
BUTIG: Troops yesterday fired artillery at positions held by a militant faction in the south as soldiers were deployed against the group, which staged a deadly bombing in President Rodrigo Duterte’s home city.
Troops used 105mm artillery to blast the positions of the Maute group in the deserted town here in the second day of fighting since the gunmen — who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group — occupied an abandoned town hall.
Mortar bombs could be heard in the distance as an MG-520 helicopter gunship flew overhead.
Most of the 17,000 residents of the largely Muslim town on Mindanao island fled to evacuation centres nearby or to relatives elsewhere after the Maute incursion on Saturday, said Mayor Dimnatang Pansar.
“We can’t fight the Maute with only 20 policemen,” he said, appealing for more soldiers.
Only a few residents stayed in their homes as armoured vehicles and military snipers fanned out through the streets, slowly advancing on the Maute group’s position.
Armed forces spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla, citing what he called “intelligence sources”, said 11 of the militants had been killed and five wounded.
Padilla said their bodies had not yet been recovered. Two soldiers were wounded in the battle.
Reporters here said the military had obtained photographs showing the Maute group flying the black IS flag over the old town hall.
Another military spokesman, Colonel Edgard Arevalo, said this symbolic action was expected.
Three members of the Maute group were arrested last month, accused of the September bombing that left 15 people dead in Davao, Duterte’s home town and Mindanao’s largest city.
Government forces captured a Maute training camp in the town in June after a 10-day gunbattle that left four soldiers and dozens of militants dead.