DWDD: CLEARING OPERATIONS | 400 Structures left to be cleared in Marawi

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Aug 14): CLEARING OPERATIONS  |  400 Structures left to be cleared in Marawi

MANILA (DWDD) – A total of 400 structures remains to be cleared in a one (1) square kilometer area in Marawi.



According to Cpt Jo-ann Petinglay, Spokesperson, AFP Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) and Joint Task Force – Marawi, on the average they are clearing two (2) to fifteen (15) structures from a high of fifty (50) to seventy (70) structures a day. This is due to the fact that the remaining area on one side is the main business district with many structures / buildings and the other side is Lanao Lake.

In a statement made by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, he believes it will take two (2) more months to clear Marawi, because aside from the increase number of high-rise structures located in the area, there is also the danger of various Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) planted by the Maute terror Group. They are also taking into consideration the presence of hostages inside those structures serving as human shields. According to four (4) hostages recently rescued, most of the hostages are confined inside a Mosque.



Cpt Petinglay added that they are also considering in their assessment the reports from escaped hostages, reports from the ground commanders, actual resistance from the ground and the safety of the remaining hostages.

As of the latest, there is an estimated 560 Maute fighters neutralized with thirty (30) to fifty (50) terrorist remaining inside Marawi and 618 weapons recovered. The government has sustained 128 soldiers killed-in-action and 45 civilians killed. TF MARAWI / MCAG

http://dwdd.com.ph/2017/08/14/clearing-operations-400-structures-left-to-be-cleared-in-marawi/