Maute use of hostages as ‘suicide bombers’ feared

Security forces continue to tighten the noose on Maute fighters who, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana have been reduced to about 30 or 40 fighters holed in two barangays in Marawi City. But though only a handful, Lorenzana cautioned against underestimating the group say-

ing those holding their ground against government troops in the battle zone are “good fighters.” In fact, Lorenzana said the government is still taking in casualties.

Reports from the field also place the number of civilian hostages being used as human shield at 30.

During the Flag Raising ceremony at the GHQ Canopy, Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City Monday morning, the Defense chief aired the concern of soldiers in Marawi about the possibility that the militants might use their civilian hostages as "suicide bombers" out of desperation.

Lorenzana said, “what our troops fear (is) that they might order the civilians with bombs ... to get near the troops and detonate themselves.”

Lorenzana stressed that ongoing mopping operations – house-to-house and room-to-room clearing is very difficult and dangerous.

Troops are doing these tasks very carefully in order to avoid the militants’ practice of using hostages as shields to avoid causing needless casualties to civilians.

As of Sunday night, about 491 Maute fighters have been killed in 68 days of fighting while the government lost 114 soldiers. At least 45 civilians were killed.

Security forces have recovered about 584 high-powered firearms while 1,723 civilians were rescued.

Sick Meanwhile, at least 25 soldiers got sick of dengue, typhoid and diarrhea in the month of July alone while fighting the Maute terrorists because of the poor environmental condition in the battle-zone.

Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokeperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) and Joint Task Force Marawi said the troops “got sick of dengue due to the presence of mosquitoes as the entire city has not been cleaned, as there are no people. Some with diarrhea due to dirty water, the water source. In every firefight, sometimes our troops drink dirty water. So before residents can return, we need to fumigate the place.”

The presence of dead bodies of humans and animals in their midst also contributed to the problem, she added.

Petinglay said most of those who got sick have already been treated and have gone back to the battlefield.

"What we are trying to emphasize is may ganun na nangyayari and we want to prevent the spread of epidemics," Petinglay said.

Unsafe Task Force Bangon Marawi has started post-disaster assessment towards the rehabilitation of Marawi.

"Undersecretary (retired Gen. Cesar) Yano is already there. He is the one in charge to organize the government agencies, the departments, the local officials, the governor, mayor and LGUs)," Lorenzana said.

"They will also have a say in the rehabilitation. Their priority is to bring back infrastructure, the roads, and clear the area of debris. Once cleared, we will allow the evacuees to return to their homes if these were not destroyed. Then we will also start with stores, that's why the DTI will have rolling stores so that the evacuees will be able to buy supplies," he added.

Lorenzana said those whose houses were located in the Central Business District (CBD) will temporarily stay in the temporary housing units.

"After the firefight, we will start the rehabilitation immediately. The engineering equipment is already there, they are ready. Even the DPWH is ready for the rehabilitation,” Lorenzana assured.

However, as the troops continue to clear the area of explosives and other traps by the rebels, Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. strongly advised displaced residents against returning to their houses.

Please do not return to your houses yet due to the huge risk or danger you will face],” Padilla said in a Palace news conference.

"The current operation inside Marawi is ongoing and the focus is particularly in areas where quite a number of unexploded ordnance and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) are still present,” he added.

Outside residents only

Apart from explosives, Padilla raised the danger of sniper fire and stray bullets may hit innocent civilians who insist on returning to their homes.

He noted that they received initial reports that a resident who tried to go home was hit by a stray bullet and fortunately survived. He said the incident highlights the persistent security risks in the battle zone.

Padilla said the government troops want to ensure Marawi City is safe and secure to avoid the loss of more lives and limbs.

While the military used to clear 50 to 100 buildings a day, the operations have slowed down since the area is littered with unexploded ordnance.

“Unfortunately as we get into the main battle area, the complexity of clearing operations becomes all the more compounded primarily because of many more unexploded ordnance,” he said.

“We appeal for more patience because we are also hastening the cleaning efforts,” he added.

For now, Padilla explained only residents outside Marawi city are allowed to go back their respective residences.

“We would like to set the record straight that current plans to allow the return of residents to their places of residence applies to IDPs who are residents outside the city of Marawi. In particular, these municipalities within Lake Lanao and not IDPs from Marawi City itself,” he said.

He said the residents of municipalities within Lake Lanao and outside of Marawi City can return to their homes by passing through alternate routes – the Saguiaran-Piagapo road and Malabang to Lanao del Sur road.

Displaced families from Marawi City who want to stay with their relatives living near Lake Lanao may do so, according to Padilla. He assured that they would continue to receive relief assistance from government upon registration with local authorities. (With a report from PNA)