DND, AFP expect Marawi clashes to end before Duterte’s SONA

Defense and military officials expect the crisis in Marawi City to end before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.

"Ang sabi sa akin ni Gen. Año nung tinanong ko last week eh sabi niya, 'Siguro Sir baka isang linggo na lang 'yan, baka tapos na 'yan, kakaunti na lang kasi 'yung aming ano diyan.' Ito kasing Maute parang ang nakikita namin dito eh they are going to fight to the death na eh. Eh palagi naman naming sinasabihan meron kaming bullhorn diyan, sinasabihan sila na ano na bumaba na kayo magsurrender na kayo, wala na, hindi na kayo mananalo rito pero 'yon pa rin patuloy pa rin silang lumalaban," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a radio interview.

"Nung isang araw nakapatay sila ng sundalo natin, ibig sabihin malakas pa rin sila, so tuloy pa rin ang ating operation, pero matatapos na ito siguro bago magkaroon ng... mag... 'yung State of the Nation Address eh July 24, siguro tapos na 'yan," he added.

Lorenzana admitted that there was "pressure" on his part to free the besieged city from local terrorists due to the upcoming SONA.

"Medyo merong pressure, dahil alam mo kung nandiyan pa rin 'yung Marawi at nagpapatayan pa rin eh parang hindi maganda sa State of the Nation Address ng presidente," he said.

Lorenzana said the military already recovered more than 250 high-powered firearms during their operations against Maute group members.

The Defense secretary also assured the civilians that the government would provide assistance for the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City.

"'Yung mga kababayan natin sa Marawi alam ko na kayo ay naabala sa inyong buhay, alam niyo naman pagka nagbabakwit kayo ay talagang hirap ang buhay. Gustong-gusto niyo na ring bumalik sa inyong mga tahanan, sandali na lang po at matatapos na ito," he said.

"Ang gobyerno, doon sa mga nasirang bahay ng mga tao, ang sabi ko sa kanya tutulong 'yung gobyerno para i-repair. Sabi niya, 'totoo 'yan, we will help them,'" Lorenzana added.

Clashes between government troops and the Maute group that began on May 23 have caused the deaths of hundreds of people, most of them militants, and the displacement of thousands of residents.

The attacks had prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to impose martial law in the entire region of Mindanao. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News