Marawi mayor appeals: Minimize use of heavy artillery

Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra on Friday appealed to government troops to minimize use of heavy artillery like mortar during the ongoing firefight against the ISIS-inspired Maute group in order not to risk the safety of residents in the area.

"Tayo po ay umaapela na kung maaari po ay 'yung paggamit ng napakalaking armas, for example mortar, ay baka pwede nating ma-minimize," Gandamra said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Kung pwede pong i-minimize 'yung damage doon sa ibang naiipit na mga kababayan sa Marawi City ay pwede nating iwasan. Ito po ay siyudad at talagang hindi po basta-basta kung saan pwede magtago 'yung tao. Kung pwede po ma-minimize at pwedeng magamit 'yung tangke na lang...Kung 'yan ay hindi naman magiging sagabal sa operasyon ng ating militar against Maute Group o ISIS-inspired group," he added.

Maute sends emissaries

Gandamra, who is still guarding the Marawi City Hall, said the Maute group has sent emissaries to talk with civilians, particularly the Maranaos in the area. However, he clarified that he is waiting for the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte on whether there should be an open communication with the terror group.

"Mayroon po silang mga pinapadalang emisaryo at gusto nilang makipag-usap but of course as I have said there is a declaration of martial law and the supreme authority in terms of militar [ay nasa] commander-in-chief natin, ang Presidente," he said.

"Tayo ay naghihintay ng direksyon from the President kung meron ba dapat na open line communication with this group. 'Yan po ay nag-aantay tayo, kung 'yan ay papayagan," he added.

Gandamra said the terrorist forces do not attack all civilians on sight.

"May mga civilians pong kinakausap sila. Hindi lahat ng civilians sinasaktan nila. 'Yung ibang civilians ng Maranao ay kinakausap nila. Pinapahiwatig nila ang kanilang mga gusto but I cannot make any conditions dahil wala sa aking kamay na magbigay ng kondisyon o kung ano man. Dapat po ay isangguni sa taas especially that we are under martial law," he said.

"Hindi naman sa kino-close natin 'yung door. Kung meron silang gustong sabihin para sa kabutihan ng lahat ay pakinggan natin basta hindi lang ma-compromise," he added.

On Tuesday night, Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao while he was on an official visit in Russia. The declaration is effective for 60 days.

Under Proclamation No. 216, Duterte tagged as rebellion the acts perpetrated by the Maute group in Marawi City on Tuesday.

These included the takeover of a hospital, burning “certain government and private facilities,” and “flying the flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in several areas, thereby openly attempting to remove from the allegiance to the Philippine Government this part of Mindanao and deprive the Chief Executive of his powers and prerogatives” to enforce laws and maintain public peace and order there.

“[T]his recent attack shows the capability of the Maute group and other rebel groups to sow terror, and cause death and damage to property not only in Lanao del Sur but also in other parts of Mindanao,” the proclamation read.

At least 31 supposed members of Maute group were killed since the start of the siege.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), said six soldiers were killed while seven were wounded.

The fresh government casualties are in addition to the seven soldiers and two policemen killed and 31 soldiers and two policemen wounded earlier and reported by authorities. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/KG, GMA News