MARAWI ‘LIBERATED’
But fighting continues as military makes final push to defeat 20 to 30 militants
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday declared Marawi City “liberated from terrorists’ influence” but the military said the five-month battle against militants loyal to the Islamic State group was not yet over.
Duterte led rain-soaked troops in celebration in Marawi a day after the military announced the death of militant leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkhayam Maute.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare Marawi liberated from the terrorists’ influence. That marks the beginning of the rehabilitation,” Duterte said, speaking moments after explosions and gunfire were heard in the city.
The military later clarified that the fighting against 20 to 30 remaining militants continued along with efforts to rescue about 20 hostages.
“We are going to get them very soon. We’re making sure no hostages and fighters are left,” Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the task force battling the militants, told AFP.
Asked by reporters if Duterte’s declaration was symbolic, Brawner said: “Yes, because we cannot really say that (the area) is 100 percent cleared because even when they declared the end of World War II, there were still stragglers”.
Armed Forces spokesman Restituto Padilla said Duterte’s declaration was issued as a “go signal” for the start of Marawi’s rehabilitation.
Hapilon and his men, aided by the Maute Group, occupied parts of Marawi on May 23 following a foiled attempt by security forces to arrest Hapilon.
The military said Monday Hapilon -- who figured on the US “most wanted terrorists” list -- was killed in a dawn offensive alongside Omarkhayam, one of two Maute brothers.
Government troops were also hunting down on Tuesday Malaysian militant Mahmud Ahmad, who the military said was among six to eight foreign fighters in a battle zone comprising about 60 to 80 buildings.
“Mahmud remains... one of our high-value targets in the operations being conducted,” Padilla said.
Ahmad is also reported to be a university lecturer in his home country who was in charge of raising finances from abroad for the jihadists and recruitment.
On Tuesday, the military said it raised the alert level as it warned against retaliatory attacks from sympathizers of the militants.
The United States, a longtime defense ally of the Philippines, vowed on Tuesday to support the military’s final push in Marawi.
As of October 16, the death toll in Marawi has risen to 1,057, including 847 Islamist fighters, 163 government troops, and 47 civilians.
Duterte was prompted to place the entire Mindanao under martial law on May 23 to quell the fighting in Marawi and prevent a spillover.
The 60-day martial law was extended by Congress until the end of December this year.
Despite the declared “liberation” of Marawi, Padilla said martial law in Mindanao would not be lifted yet.
“Hindi pa po ito ang panahon para i-lift ito, dahil hindi pa po tapos ang ginagawa naming trabaho (This is not yet the time to lift martial law because we are not yet done),” he said.
Padilla said martial law is necessary to identify the networks of the Maute group particularly in Cotabato, Maguindanao, some parts of Lanao, and Sulu as well as for the rehabilitation of Marawi.
Padilla added that they were expecting other members of the Maute group to retaliate following the neutralization of their leaders.
He assured that the troops are ready for any retaliatory attacks.
“We will continue to address whatever threats there are,” Padilla said.