The Armed Forces of the Philippines denied reports that half of Marawi City is still controlled by the Maute terrorist group.
“We have complete control of the city, contrary to what is coming out of social media,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told Palace reporters.
“It is not true that half of the city is controlled by the rebels. Totally untrue,” he said.
“The Armed Forces and the police are in complete control of the city except for some areas of the city they (Maute group) continue to hold,” he said. “These are the subject of clearing operations that are continually being conducted.”
Padilla said they do not have a timeline for military operations in Marawi but that their “ground commanders have assured them that the end is almost there.”
No exact number of terrorists
However, Padilla said they do not have a number of the remaining rebels in the area.
He described the situation has “very fluid.” He said that while they have received reports that there are around 40 to 50 “armed elements,” the number could go up because of the possibility that some escaped prisoners have joined the group.
“As to the exact number of terrorists remaining, exact figures are not available,” Padilla said.
President Rodrigo Duterte last week declared martial law in Mindanao after the Maute group took over and burned down several establishments, including hospitals and schools. According to Duterte’s report to Congress, the group attacked Marawi City Jail and facilitated the escape of at least 68 inmates.
During the first so-called “Mindanao Hour” briefing in Malacañang on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said 61 terrorists, 19 civilians and 18 government security forces have been killed in Marawi as of Sunday.
Factors in lifting martial law
Asked if the AFP will recommend an extension of martial law, Padilla said it has just started and they have yet to give an assessment on the matter.
“What we are trying to do right now, expedite what needs to be done in order to restore law and order in the whole of Mindanao, particularly in Marawi,” he said.
He said among the factors that they will consider in deciding whether to recommend the lifting of martial law is the restoration of law and order and the absence of “remnants of resistance within the city.”
Padilla said the military will turn over control of the city to civil authorities once the military determines that there is no longer resistance from the terrorists within the city.
He explained that the military currently has full control of the city, which means they have “control (of) who comes in and who comes out, who moves around and who doesn’t.” JE/rga