Butig town cleared of Maute Group terrorists, says military

From Rappler (Dec 1): Butig town cleared of Maute Group terrorists, says military



 Government troops of the 103rd Infantry Brigade onboard military trucks make their way into the besieged town of Butig in Lanao del Sur province. TV5 SCREENSHOT

The besieged town of Butig in Lanao del Sur province has been cleared of terrorists from the Maute Group, says Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla.

"Based on the report of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, (Butig town) has been 100 percent cleared of the (Maute Group) and that clearing and fixing of the damage inflicted on the municipality is now ongoing before allowing the return of residents who evacuated," Padilla said in Filipino. The 103rd Infantry Brigade is the lead military unit in the almost six-day dislodgement operations against the bandit group.

Prior to this, the town will be turned over to the local government unit, he added.

Death toll for the almost six-day fighting has been placed at 61 for the Maute Group and 35 wounded for government troops.

Padilla said they are still verifying whether the terrorist group had sustained additional casualties during Wednesday night's operation.

At the Poblacion, a soldier inspecting the area sustained injuries after a landmine exploded nearby.

Earlier, government forces recaptured the old Butig municipal hall Wednesday (Nov. 30) following the withdrawal of Maute Group bandits holed up there in the wake of the AFP's overwhelming superiority.

The Philippine flag was once against hoisted at the flag pole of the old municipal hall after the military brought down the Islamic State flag earlier raised by the Maute Group which had pledged allegiance to the international terrorist organization which declared a caliphate in swathes of Syria and Iraq it invaded in June 2014.

The offensive against the Maute Group started last Nov. 26 when the bandits, fearful of ongoing operations against them, decided to hole up in Butig.

Col. Rosseler Murillo, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said their offensive was filled with difficulty because the Maute bandits were strategically positioned in the area.

Although the terrorists have fled the town proper, the military cannot recommend yet the return of the evacuees.

Murillo said the military will not stop until they have completely eradicated the group.

The abandoned Butig municipal hall is the same one the terrorists tried to capture last February only to be foiled by government troops.

As this developed, the AFP spokesperson vehemently denied reports claiming that the roadway bombing incident in Marawi City which wounded nine troopers, including seven members of the Presidential Security Group advance party last Nov. 29, was staged.

Padilla added that it is "against the principle of every soldier to wound or hurt a fellow comrade-in-arms."

He added the AFP remains apolitical and committed to upholding its mandate of protecting the country and people against all form of threats.

http://interaksyon.com/article/134854/butig-town-cleared-of-maute-group-terrorists-says-military