Maute terrorists fire at ‘safe zones’ to counter airstrikes

The number of terrorist stray bullets hitting buildings in supposedly safe areas peaks every time the military conducts airstrikes on enemy enclaves in Marawi City.

Citing military sources, dzBB's Benjie Liwanag reporting from Marawi said Wednesday that holdover pro-ISIS Maute terrorists retaliate by firing randomly at areas in the city declared as safe zones during air raids.

Liwanag quoted Colonel Romeo Brawner, Joint Task Force Marawi deputy commander, as saying that remaining enemy forces become so desperate during airstrikes.

"Sinasabayan ng Maute ang airstrikes at ito ang dahilan kung bakit maraming mga ligaw na bala ang tumatama sa safe zones," Brawner was quoted as saying.

According to Brawner, two civilians have been killed by stray bullets from enemy fire, and  that seven soldiers have been wounded, including the one who was inside Camp Ranao.

Meanwhile, Brawner also said that the issuance of permits to some residents to visit their homes has been suspended, following the wounding by a stray bullet of an employee of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Stray bullet hit the ARMM employee while inside the Mindanao State University (MSU)-Marawi campus, which is considered safe zone among other areas in the city.

Meanwhile, Brawner cautioned those who were able to secure "visit permits" to avoid wandering into open areas and advised them to seek cover inside buildings in designated safe zones.

In a separate report, Liwanag also said the ISIS-inspired group has started employing a new strategy to combat government troops.

According to the report, Maute members were covering themselves in dirt and hiding underneath pile of soil with only half of their faces exposed.

This strategy allowed the group to shoot at soldiers undetected.

Aside from hiding underneath the ground, the Maute group has also been using improvised explosive devices, the report said.

The Marawi siege has been going on months after government troops captured Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon in a raid in Marawi City. President Rodrigo Duterte had also declared Martial Law in Mindanao. —Akari Nakano/LBG/MDM, GMA News