Maute Group terrorists now being pocketed into 4 Marawi City barangays

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 15): Maute Group terrorists now being pocketed into 4 Marawi City barangays

Remnants of Maute Group terrorists are now being cordoned-off in four Marawi City barangays, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla on Thursday.

But he also clarified that the lawless elements only have partial and not total control of these four villages.

"Our troops are moving progressively into the interiors of enemy-held areas and this is confined to four barangays, out of 96 barangays in the City of Marawi, four remain to be problematic but of the four not all of these barangays are in their hands, only portions," Padilla stressed.

He added that military units are significantly making headway into the inner areas of these barangays where they continue (hide)," the AFP spokesperson stressed.

Padilla pointed out that the presence of built-up areas or buildings make of strong materials that can resist strong attacks is the reason why these barangays are problematic for the military.

"Hence there are times that we need to effect and use heavier ordnance to neutralize targets where particular vantage points are becoming a dangerous approach for our troops," the AFP spokesperson pointed out.

As of this posting, government forces killed in the four weeks of fighting is now at 58 with 206 Maute Group neutralized and 26 civilians executed since the conflict started last May 23.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/995644