By Jong Cadion
PAGADIAN
CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (September 24, 2017) - At 10:00 AM Sunday
(September 24), Major Generals Rolando Bautista and Danilo Pamonag, Commander
of the Joint Task Force Marawi and Commander of the Joint Special Operations
Task Force Trident respectively, crossed for the first time since the start of
the Marawi seige, the Bayabao Bridge and the Masui Bridge, military official
said.
These bridges
were recently recovered and controlled by government forces from the Maute
Terrorist Group that lay seige over this Islamic City. The two commanders were
met on the other end of the bridge by Brigadier General Melquiades Ordiales,
the Commander of the Joint Task Group Tiger.
According to
Major General Bautista, this is a significant progress in the effort of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to defeat
the terrorists, rescue the hostages, and regain control of the whole city.
"The terrorists are now becoming desperate as our soldiers and police are
closing in on their defensive positions. We are continuing our appeal to the
terrorists to release their hostsges and for them to surrender," Major
General Bautista added.
On its 125th
day since the seige started, 151 soldiers and police have paid the ultimate
sacrifice while 694 terrorists have been killed.
During his
5th visit to Marawi City last September 21, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte
said that "the end of the combat operation is just around the
corner". Once the firefight is over, the daunting task of rehabilitation
will proceed full blast.
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