Troops still clearing Maute camp of bombs

From Malaya Business Insight (Apr 28): Troops still clearing Maute camp of bombs

THE military yesterday said there is still no timetable for the return of thousands of displaced residents of Piagapo town, Lanao del Sur, to their homes.

At least 755 families or   3,544 persons were displaced by clashes which broke out Friday last week when government troops assaulted a lair the Maute Group in Barangay Gacap, said Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division.

The fighting ended last Monday when government troops seized the group’s camp. The operation also resulted in the killing of 38 Maute members, including three Indonesians and a Malaysian formerly associated with the Southeast Asian regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah, and recovery of explosives and firearms.

Herrera said troops are still clearing the camp and its periphery, which he said is about 15 hectares, of improvised explosive devices and bomb components.

“Once terminated (clearing operations), they can already return,” he said.

He could not immediately say how much of the area has been cleared so far.

Herrera said the displaced residents are in different evacuation centers. He said soldiers are assisting the Red Cross and other non-government units in relief operations.

Herrera also said pursuit operations against the remnants of the Maute Group were ongoing as of yesterday. 

Military officials earlier said troops clashed with about 162 members of the Maute Group at the camp. Military aircraft and artillery assets supported the operating troops in the conduct of the operation.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/troops-still-clearing-maute-camp-bombs