Marawi City Now Under Full Control Of Gov’t Forces Of President Duterte
Philippine Military units have stabilized the situation in
Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur following a clash with Maute Group terrorists allied
with Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon Tuesday afternoon, May 23.
“The situation in Marawi has been stabilized. Security
forces are in full control of the situation. The armed men we are dealing with
are not ISIS but (members of a) local terrorist group,” Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office Chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said
Wednesday.
He added that reports and rumors claiming that the
terrorists have captured and taken control of various government facilities are
spurious and are meant to spread lies and disinformation aimed at attracting
foreign terrorists support and recognition.
“The reported ‘eyewitness account’ is untrue that Amai
Pakpak Hospital has been occupied and the people there were held hostage. The
Marawi City Hall was not occupied as was earlier reported merely quoting
‘sources’,” Arevalo added.
“The sporadic firefights heard were harassment actions by
terrorist sympathizers that were conducted as diversionary tactics to divide
the attention of the reinforcing AFP personnel. But even these are already held
in check,” he pointed out.
The clash between Maute Group members started 2 p.m. Tuesday
in Barangay Basak, Malutlut when government security forces learned of the
presence of Hapilon and his cohorts.
Hapilon was reported severely wounded in the series of
military operations in Lanao Del Sur early this January.
The former is reportedly the representative of the ISIS
terror group in the Philippines.
This prompted military and police units to conduct a law
enforcement operation but they were fired on first by the bandits.
“The security forces were fired upon constraining them to
retaliate,” Arevalo stressed.
Initial reports said at least one soldier was killed and
eight others were wounded.
“Follow up operations are still ongoing and we cannot reveal
other details so as not to compromise operational security. Follow on forces is
underway as we speak to further ensure that we will keep the grip of the
situation,” the AFP official added.
Arevalo also urged the public to refrain from posting in
social media information that would tend exacerbate the situation especially
photos and videos on the movements of our troops and on terrorist propaganda
circulating through social media.
“We will continue to provide updates as often as possible
with due regard to the security of our operating forces and the conduct of the
operations itself,” he added.
Marawi City Now Under Full Control Of Gov’t Forces Of President Duterte
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May 25, 2017
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