Manila: Government forces have retaken most areas of a southern city that was besieged by four Filipino hardline Islamist groups in May, leaving the extremists a small area for their defence, officials say.
The fighters are led by three militant leaders who have continued to elude arrest, authorities said.
“As far as we know, Abdullah and Omar Maute [of Maute militant group] are still there [in Marawi City]. Isnilon Hapilon [of the Abu Sayyaf] group is also still there,” Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Eduardo Año said in a briefing on Tuesday.
“They are in control of a small area, less than 500 square meters. We will expect confrontation with [members of the] Maute as they make their last stand,” said Año, adding, “The terror members have no escape route out of Marawi City. Their allies could not get in to reinforce [them].
“That’s our main goal. No way out, no way in [for the extremists]. If they want to join, or if they want to go to heaven [after their mission] so we will give them the chance to go to heaven,” Año said, adding the armed forces are preparing for “one final push” against the terror groups.
He did not give details.
The battle for Marawi City began when arresting officers failed to issue warrants of arrest for Hapilon while he was being elected as head of an Daesh branch in an apartment in Marawi City last May 23.
A total of 614 Filipino-Muslim terrors; 133 soldiers and police; and 45 civilians have been killed in clashes between government forces and the extremists since May 23. A total of 1,728 have been rescued from terror lairs.in abandoned Maraawi City.
President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao southern Philippines starting May 23, adding this will prevent the spread of IS-inspired groups in other parts of Mindanao and other nearby Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Philippine Congress extended Duterte’s martial law rule in the south up to end of 2017.
