No truce in Marawi City on Eid’l Fitr

Intensified offensives against the ISIS-linked Maute jihadists still holed in some establishments in Marawi City will continue despite the observance on Monday of the Islam religious feast of Eid'l Fitr that marks the culmination of the 30-day, dawn-to-dusk fasting  and prayers during the month-long Ramadan.

"Sa lugar po na meron tayong hinahanap at pinagtutuunan ng pansin dahil madami pang armado, hindi po titigil. Kinakailangan po ipagpatuloy natin ... para sa kapakanan ng mga taga-Marawi," Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. told dzBB on Saturday.

At least four of the city's 96 barangays need to be cleared of members of jihadist Maute and other terrorist groups, Padilla said, adding that security forces would soon regain full control and liberate Marawi.

"Nakuha na po natin ang kabuuan ng Marawi, 96 barangays po yan, pero sa apat na brangay nananatiling may problema, 'yan po ang kinaroroonan at pinag-atrasan ng mga kalaban."

Clashes between government forces and members of the Maute group have been raging for more than a month since May 23.

Crisis management committee spokesman Zia Alonto Adiong said that fierce clashes have destroyed at least 30 to 40 percent of the city and displaced some 246,000 people.

At least, 69 government troops, 280 Maute members and 26 civilians have been killed in the long-drawn war.

"Modest estimate po ito kasi pag hindi natin nakuha yung labi, 'yan yung tinatawag nating body count at mahigit sa kalahati dito ay mga labi na nakuha natin on the field at 'yan ay sigurado," he said.

"Doon naman sa hindi nakumpirma sa pamamagitan ng body count, 'yun po ay kumpirmado ng eye witnesses. At hindi po natin isinasama pag wala po tayong tinatawag na validation kaya't maaring mas mataas pa dito ang bilang subalit hindi po natin maaring isama dahil wala po tayong batayan," he added. —LBG, GMA News