The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has resumed its airstrikes over Marawi City on Friday morning.
The campaign began early morning and lasted before noontime.
Witnesses observed intervals of 10 to 15 minutes before the military resumed the bombings that targeted the positions of the Maute terrorists all throughout the morning.
Reports from the ground said the Maute group still controls three barangays.
The military confirmed this.
The sky is currently overcast in the city.
Local authorities have put up Philippine flags across Marawi.
Flags are also displayed on the vehicles of military vehicles.
“The greater part of Marawi City has never been occupied by Maute,” AFP Spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said during the ‘Mindanao Hour’ press briefing on Friday.
He said the AFP is targetting to ‘liberate’ Marawi from the Maute group by Monday, Independence Day.
But should the military be unable to completely drive away the terrorists during the weekend, the city will still celebrate Independence Day, based on the order of AFP Chief of Staff Eduardo Año.
President Rodrigo Duterte had wanted to go to Marawi City on Thursday but this trip was called off due to bad weather.
When asked when the Commander in Chief will fly to Marawi, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, "maybe after the celebration in Manila," referring to the Independence Day activities on June 12, 2017.
