AT least 10 terrorist snipers were killed as government forces pushed hard against enemy lines, capturing fortified militant positions during the resumption of search and destroy operations against the terrorists still holed up in Marawi City.
Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Eduardo Año said the 10 snipers were killed as hundreds of elite troops engaged the terrorist group in its last bastion covering four villages outside of Marawi City the other day.
Año said the slaying of the snipers was the result of painstaking day-to-day operations to decimate the terrorists while eliminating collateral damage to the civilian populace and property.
“We are eliminating them and everyday they are being reduced,” Año said.
By government count, the latest deaths bring to 317 the number of terrorists killed in 39 days of fighting in Marawi City.
Año said the latest fighting erupted within the two square kilometer portion covering four villages in Marawi City where the terrorists are still holed up in concrete structures they occupied following the attack in May 23.
At present, Año said troops are engaging the enemy in buildings, going from house to house, floor to floor, making it difficult to predict when the terrorists will be wiped out.
“We have to secure all the buildings and we will do that no matter or how long in order to protect the civilians and prevent possible harm to the soldiers,” Año said.
He expressed optimism that “it’s just matter of days” before the last terrorist falls.
Año estimated the remaining Maute terrorists inside Marawi City fighting government forces at between 120 to 130 militants.
He said the terrorist position is getting smaller and smaller every day.
In Cotabato City, the military advised Maranaos who have “Maute” or “Romato” as a family name to go to the authorities to get clearance that certifies they are not involved in terroristic activities.
The call was aired by Army Col. Jesus Sarsagat, commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade, following the arrest of nine persons, four of whom have Maute for a family name on Friday morning. Two were minors.
Sarsagat the Maranaos came to Cotabato City from Marugong Lanao del Sur to have an elder family member see doctor.
”They said they also came over to apply for NBI clearance to prove they have no cases involving terrorism in Marawi City,” Sarsagat told reporters.
”They insist they are not in any way connected to the Maute brothers although they have the same family name,” he added.
They were invited for questioning just to clarify things, said Senior Supt. James Allan Logan, director of PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
He said one of them was a village chairman in Marugong while the other was a retired school principal who went to NBI to seek clearance and prove they were not related to the Maute brothers now fighting the government forces in Marawi City.
But Sarsagat said the authorities decided to hold them for questioning because three of them have similar names in the Arrest, Search and Seizure Order of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana issued following the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. With PNA