Military readies ‘final push’ vs. Maute, plan to free hostages

Security forces' final plan to crush  holdover Maute forces in Marawi City is in place and will be implemented soon, a military commander said on Eid'l Adha Friday.

But Colonel Romeo Brawner, Joint Task Force Marawi deputy commander, told dzBB's Mike Enriquez that the planned "final push" against the terrorists in the war-torn city must be done with utmost care to ensure the safety of the pro-ISIS group's hostages.

Brawner made the pronouncement Friday morning as Muslims in controlled areas in Marawi City prepare for the observance of Islam's Eid'l Adha or the feast of holy sacrifice.

Asked how the joint military and police forces are going to implement the "final push", Brawner said, "Ang 'final push' ay yung pabubuhos ng halat ng puwersa ng mga sundalo at pulis laban sa mga terorista upang lubusan nang mabawi ang Marawi City."

"Pero ang pinakaiingatan natin ay ang hawak nilang hostages at kailangan maingat tayo dyan para sa kanilang kaligtasan," Brawner added.

Also he said, there are indications  of the possibility that the Maute jihadists will use the hostages as human shields or as suicide bombers.

"Sa isang pinagkukutaan ng mga kalaban na nalukob ng militar at pulis, may nakitang vest na may nakakabit na bomba, kaya maaaring gamitin ang mga bihag na human shields o suicide bombers."

In an earlier report on "24-Oras",  GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo, citing military sources, said that the rebels are holding some 300 hostages, particularly in the Bato Mosque area.

Earlier reports indicated that at final victory against the Maute, President Rodrigo Duterte would lead the planting of the Philippine flag  in the city.  

But when asked about the military's deadline to finally liberate Marawi, Brawner said quoting Western Mindanao Command chief Major General Carlito Galvez Jr., "Maybe in two to three weeks." —LBG/KVD, GMA News