President Duterte surprised troops in Marawi Thursday on his third visit to boost the morale of officers and foot soldiers fighting Islamic extremists for three months now.

Wearing a Kevlar helmet and a bullet proof vest over a fatigue uniform, the President made a brief stopover at a temporary patrol base where he took a sniper’s rifle, aimed at enemy position and fired twice.

PRESIDENTIAL SNIPER – President Duterte aims a rifle during a visit to a military sniper’s nest in Marawi City Thursday. The President was reported to have fired twice at an Islamist jihadist position. (Malacañang Photo | Manila Bulletin)

The President’s visit came at a time when the Armed Forces have recaptured the Marawi police station and the grand mosque – vital achievements towards the “road to the liberation of Marawi City.”

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said these two operational achievements have advanced the position of government troops and restricted the extremists “to about one-half square kilometer grid.”

“The enemies’ world is getting smaller. Definitely, they used the grand mosque as a safe haven previously,” he added.

In recovering the mosque, Padilla said they applied an “envelopmental approach,” not a “frontal attack,” to preserve the place of worship. Under such approach, he said the troops targeted all nearby installations around the grand mosque “so that we can constrict it.”

Three soldiers were wounded in the process. No hostages, however, were found in the mosque.

Padilla said the grand mosque is the “most significant landmark” in Marawi as it is the biggest mosque in the area.

“Having it under the hands of government provides us the impetus to symbolically say that nakuha na natin ‘yung sentro mismo ng bayan [we regained the center of the city],” he said. “We will need the grand mosque to rally and to enlighten our citizens in Maranao, our kababayans kasi they need to have a place to come to, to uplift their spirits,” he added.

Currently, government troops are clearing the mosque amid reports of “abundant” booby traps of unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices.

Seal of commitment

Duterte returned to Marawi 20 days after his second visit and this time went near the battle zone. In his short talk with soldiers, Duterte said visiting them was the best way he could show his support to those who are now fighting for peace in Marawi City.

“I am here once again to show – not just say – my unity with you. That much as you all are willing to die for your country with unquestioning resolve to follow the orders to ‘Charge!’ coming from your Commander-in-Chief, I am and I can be in the same muddy ground that you now stand; drenched like you under the same rain; and somehow smell like you in this battleground,” the President said.

He said being with them on the ground is one of his utmost concerns even if it would compromise his security.

“I will be happy to die for my country. I need to be with you to show my solidarity,” Duterte added.

Upon touchdown, the president boarded the awaiting convoy where he received an informal briefing from the Commander of the Joint Task Force Marawi Brig. Gen. Rolando Bautista as the vehicles moved around portions of the Main Battle Area (MBA) for grounds inspection up to the foot of Mapandi Bridge–the site of one of the bloodiest encounters between government security forces and the extremists.

At one point, the president alighted from his vehicle, walked towards the Casualty Evacuation Area without bullet-proof vests on, and went further to greet and console the wounded soldiers being treated there.

He came as close to the fight as climbing a sniper position and twice pulled the trigger of a sniper rifle trained on an identified position of terrorists trading shots with our own marksmen.

Año said the President had a short talk with troops at the camp of Task Force Trident under Maj. Gen. Danilo Pamonag where he handed combat watches, Soldier’s Individual Packs, and P5,000 each for all the troops in Marawi.

Rebuild Marawi

The President again aired his frustration on why the Maranao people allowed the rebellion to ripen in the city.

“I am not blaming the entire Maranao people, I sympathize with them, I grieve with them. But all these years they allowed the rebellion to ripen here, so may mga (there are) tunnels, they were stocking firearms and there was this recruitment,” the Commander-in-Chief said.

He repeated “we will not stop until the last terrorist is neutralized. That will be the ultimate objective of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he assured.

And once the war will be over, the government will look for funds to rehabilitate Marawi and assured the soldiers he would provide an educational fund for their children.

Accompanying the President were National Security adviser Hermogenes Esperon, AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Año, and Christopher Go, special assistant to the President, Christopher Go.

The Commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command Lt. Gen Carlito Galvez, Jr.; the Commander of the Joint Task Force Marawi Brig. Gen. Rolando Bautista; and Task Force Trident Commander Maj. Gen. Danilo Pamonag sent off the President past 6 p.m. under the rain that capped his visit.

As of August 24, at least 596 extremists were killed, 129 troops, and 45 civilians. Around 40 rebels are still hiding in Marawi and holding about 30 hostages so far, according to Padilla.

He said military efforts to liberate Marawi are “delicate operations that we need to do slowly” given the booby traps to slow down security forces.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Argyll Cyrus Geducos, Francis Wakefield, and Genalyn Kabiling

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