AFP’s Padilla stresses: No deadline on Marawi conflict

The Armed Forces of the Philippines again stressed that it has not imposed a deadline on the ongoing conflict in Marawi City, despite a general's earlier statement that the city would be rid of terrorists by October 15.

“Nitong mga nakaraang araw naging maganda ang takbo ng ating operasyon sa Marawi. Marami po sa inyo ang patuloy na nagtatanong kung kelan matatapos ito at meron din pong lumabas na nagbigay ng takdang araw ang ilan sa ating mga opisyal. Wala pong categorical statement na nanggaling sa AFP,” Major General Restituto Padilla said on Thursday.

He added that AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Año has reminded them not to give any dates.

“Pinagbilin po ng ating hepe na si General Año na bagamat tayo’y nagmamadali upang matapos ang bakbakan dito at masimulan na natin ang pagbangon ng Marawi, hindi po tayo nagbibigay ng anumang araw, so anuman po ang mga lumabas na anunsyo na matatapos na ang bakbakan, 'yan po ay hindi official na announcement at hindi po categorical statement na nanggaling po sa ating Armed Forces,” Padilla said.

However, Ano himself expressed confidence that the military could end the crisis in October.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez earlier said they expect to clear Marawi of the Maute terrorists by October 15.

"It will be cleared not later than [October] 15, which is our deadline. We are confident we will be able to clear the remaining area in the next few days,” he said.

Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Group Ranao, later said that there would be no need for an extension on the military's new, self-imposed October 15 deadline.

Padilla said they believe that the firefight will end at the right time, when they have addressed all the concerns in the area and cleared it from the enemies and unexploded ordnance.

“Kami ay naninindigan na ang pagtatapos ng ating bakbakan d’yan ay darating na lamang pag nakuha na natin lahat ng ating kailangang harapin na mga suliranin,” he said.

He added that morale remains high among government troops.

“Kasalukuyang naka-focus po ang ating mga tropa, mataas po ang morale nila at sinisikap nating tapusin ito sa pinakamadaling panahon,” he said.

Government troops earlier recovered 22 bodies of Maute members in two buildings in the main battle area.

Padilla said that the heavy firefight for the recovery of the buildings led to the death of the Army lieutenant who was leading the offensive. He declined to identify the military officer.

He added the government's continuous offensive have left the terrorists less than five hectares to move around, while 150 buildings have yet to be cleared.

According to a report by Emil Sumangil on 24 Oras on Wednesday, most of the Maute fighters encountered by the troops in the main battle area now have been teenage boys.

The fighting which broke out in Marawi between government forces and the Maute group on May 23 has turned the Lanao del Sur capital into a devastated ghost town. President Duterte declared martial law over the entirety of Mindanao on the same day the fighting began.

After previous announced deadlines, the AFP stated way back in June that it would no longer impose an end date for ridding the city of the terrorists.

The conflict is now in its 143rd day. According to the latest numbers, at least 155 government troops and 45 civilians have lost their lives. The number of dead among the Maute terrorists is over 750. — BM, GMA News