AFP preparing for one final push vs. ISIS-Maute in Marawi City

Government forces are preparing for one final push against the ISIS-inspired Maute Group after the bandits reportedly have been confined in a small portion of Marawi City, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Monday.

“Nakita naman natin ‘yung progreso at pag-abanse ng ating mga sundalo, ‘yung Grand Mosque nakuha na natin. Maliit na lang ‘yung lugar na naiwan para sa kanila, so probably we're preparing for one big battle,” said AFP chief of staff General Eduardi Año said.

If the bandits were spread out in several parts of the city over the past few months, Año said the Maute members were expected to consolidate especially since their area was getting smaller.

“Lumiliit na ‘yung lugar nila, nagko-consolidate din ‘yung kalaban. So spread out sila before, now they are consolidating so we expect na there will be fresh fighting kapag dumating na tayo sa huling phase ng labanan,” Año said.

He said the Maute would fight it out until the very last.

“Ang kalaban naman ay nagsabi na they will fight it out up to their last breath so with that declaration nila we expect na mag-do or die din sila,” Año said.

He cannot say when the final battle will be but he expressed confidence that the troops on the ground already knew what to do.

“Mahirap sabihin (kung kelan), medyo kailangan diyan meron tayong confidentiality e. Alam naman ng mga tactical commanders at ground commanders natin ang gagawin diyan,” Año said.

“It’s just a matter of time lang para matapos na ito. What we want really is to minimize pa ‘yung loss of lives and destructions.  Gusto natin matapos ito nang wala nang madadagdagang maraming casualties especially sa mga civilians,” he added.

As of 7 p.m., August 27, 605 Maute members have been killed while 130 on the part of the government.

There is no change in the number of civilians killed which remained at 45 and 1,728 civilians have been rescued.

The soldiers of the 10th Infantry Battalion have retaken St. Mary's Cathedral located in Brgy Marinaut, Marawi City at 3 p.m., August 25.

During the first week of the siege, video footages were posted on the internet showing members of the Maute destroying statues of Catholic saints inside the church.

Troops were able to recover three high powered firearms and assorted ammunition inside the building.

The Islamic Center was also cleared by troops at 2 p.m., August 24, just two hours before President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in the main battle area to visit the troops.

The Maute members used the structure as their headquarters where their command and control came from and where they had stored several ammunition and firearms.

Recovered were three booby traps; one suicide bomb suit with improvised explosive device; two rocket propelled grenade launchers; one RPG; one tripod for 50 caliber machine gun; and one Daesh black flag.

The troops also discovered a dug in tunnel inside the mosque where the Maute hid their ammunition.

"We have seen how these terrorists have desecrated both the Islamic Center and the St Mary's Cathedral," said Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, Jr., Western Mindanao Command commander.

"This only shows how these people do not respect any religion may it be Christian or Muslim. We abhor the acts of the terrorists and we know that they will never have a place anywhere in the world,” he added. —NB, GMA News