Troops retake Maute strongpoint

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (July 4, 2017) - Govt troops successfully overran and took control of another Maute/ASG stongpoint in the Main Battle Area (MBA) on Monday (July 3), military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that the troops have taken over control of Dansalan College, one of the stronghold of the terrorists and criminal gangs who attacked Marawi a month ago. The school is host to some high rise structures that serve as machine gun nest and snipers' vantage position of terrorist elements. Soldiers are gradually taking over terrorist held structures as enemy strong points fall one by one to govt forces.

Cpt. Petinglay said that the troops recovered Cal .50 heavy machinegun and 14 other high powered firearms as they wrest control of the school. This brings to 410 the total number of firearms recovered by operating troops in the clearing operations to neutralize terrorists and criminal elements in the MBA.

A cadaver of a foreign looking individual was also recovered by troops. It is believed that it is one of the reported foreign fighters from Singapore. A total of 11 suspected foreign fighters have been reportedly killed so far, she added.

Dansalan College is one of the establishments taken and partially burned by Maute/ASG in the early part of the crisis. This is the same school where the Maute brothers had their earlier education. The acts of destruction landed them in the most notorious and abhored alumni list.

Brig. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, commander of JTF Marawi said, "It will just be a matter of time and our soldiers will fully liberate Marawi from terrorists and criminal gangs who brought mayhem to this city. We owe this to our Maranao brothers and sisters. Our soldiers fully know what is at stake and we will strive together to neutralize these criminals in order to bring peace and normalcy in Marawi.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,717 trapped civilians have so far been rescued by govt forces together with civilian counterparts.

Daily stream of civilians are being rescued while battle rage and as govt forces continue to gain ground and foothold on enemy strongholds.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of WestMinCom emphasized that the clearing operations put utmost consideration on the safety of trapped civilians.

"Our soldiers together with our civilian counterparts will do everything in their power to locate more trapped civilians and device steps to rescue as many as possible.”

It is believed that with the rescue of 1,717 individuals, about 300 to 500 civilians are still trapped in the conflict area from the original estimate of 2000 to 2500 in the early days.