Islamic school hit by mortar

Aside from an Islamic school, this house in Matanao town was also hit by mortar fire that punched a hole on its gate. The stray mortar round was fired by terrorists still holed up in Marawi, according to the military. —DRIES ABATO LININDONG

MARAWI CITY — At least six mortar rounds fired from the war zone here landed on two villages in the town of Matanao, Lanao del Sur province on Sunday, with one exploding at an Islamic school filled with students attending weekend classes.

The military quickly disowned the mortar firings, pointing fingers at Maute, the homegrown terror group that tried to establish an Islamic State (IS) province in this predominantly Muslim city.

While no one was wounded in the mortar blasts, residents and children were sent to panic.

Early morning bombing

Nasser Dimapinto, an employee at the Islamic school in the village of Ragaya, told reporters that at least 480 students were in their classrooms when a mortar hit and exploded on the school building’s wall around 7 a.m. on Sunday.

The blast sent students scampering for safety. Many were crying out of fear.

“Some stumbled on the floor while others fainted,” Dimapinto said.

In the same village, Norodin Sapaluden said he was opening the gate of the house he was guarding when a mortar exploded.

‘Retaliatory fire’

In the village of Matampay, another mortar exploded, prompting residents to flee to the town hall.

“Women were crying and the children were terrified,” resident Jamirah Macabalang said.

Three other mortars failed to explode.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, Joint Task Force Marawi spokesperson, said the mortar rounds came from “retaliatory fire” from terrorists.

“None of our indirect fire weapons were employed this morning. None that could possibly reach the area of impact,” Petinglay said.

“Our units are still investigating as to where particularly the enemy fire came from,” she added.
The military resumed bombing runs in the city targeting Maute positions.

Using Philippine Air Force FA-50 jets, government forces launched airstrikes shortly before 8 a.m. on Sunday as the campaign to finish off Maute gunmen continued for two months now.

But Petinglay said the military suffered three more casualties, raising the death toll on the government side to 122.

Two of the latest fatalities were victims of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on Sunday, Petinglay said. The third military casualty died of a heart attack, she added.

80 captives

“The fighting is concentrated now on a one-square kilometer area,” Petinglay said, adding that at least 50 terrorists were still holed up in the city.

She said the military was clearing parts of two villages, conscious of the continued captivity of at least 80 hostages, including Catholic priest Teresito “Chito” Suganob, vicar general of Marawi.

According to Petinglay, soldiers have killed at least 528 terrorists and recovered 603 firearms.

At least 45 civilians were killed by the terrorists while 1,724 were rescued.

Clashes flared up on May 23 when government forces tried to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, a top Abu Sayyaf leader and acknowledged IS head in Mindanao.

The arresting team, however, was met by a large group of terrorists, including some foreigners, as Maute and Abu Sayyaf joined forces in Marawi. —Jeoffrey Maitem