THE ISIS-linked Maute Group is using the mosques in Marawi City as bomb factories, a military official said Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Emmanuel Garcia of the Joint Task Force Marawi said they made the discovery after government forces recovered the Bato Mosque and White Mosque
“Sa mga mosque sila gumagawa ng IED [improvised explosive devices],” Garcia said in a text message. “Sa Bato Ali Mosque nakuha ‘yung maraming components ng IED and it shows doon sila gumagawa ng IED. Pati sa ibang mosque gumagawa sila ng IED.”
Troops recovered the Bato Mosque two weeks ago and the White Mosque last week.
Meanwhile, European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen and the ambassadors of 13 EU member states visited Cotabato City on Tuesday to reiterate the EU’s commitment to support the peace process and development in Mindanao.
Jessen said in a statement the EU’s visit to Mindanao demonstrated their continuous support and hopes for peace and stability despite the ongoing fighting in Marawi City between Philippine Authorities and the Maute Group.
“While there are still many challenges which lie ahead, we remain hopeful that peace and stability will be restored soon in Mindanao,” Jessen said.
He then called on all the stakeholders to “remain steadfast” in their commitment to help push for peace in the Southern Philippines.
Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Ranao, said among the items seized from the Bato Mosque were six sacks of coins that were being used as shrapnels by the terrorists for their IEDs.
“There have been instances already in the past where our troops have been hit by coins,” he said.
Despite the government troops’ retaking of the Bato and White mosques, Garcia said, there were other mosques still occupied by the Maute-ISIS.
“Meron pa, kahit saan naman pwede gumawa ng IED,” he said.
The military says two more mosques in Marawi City are being occupied by the terrorists.
Garcia said the terror group was using mosques because they knew the government troops would not bomb them.
As of Oct. 2, 753 Maute members and 155 government troops have been killed in the ongoing conflict that started on May 23.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs office chief, said the operation in Marawi was ongoing and asked for patience from the public.
He said they were still clearing the areas of IEDs, booby traps and unexploded ordnance dropped by military planes.
“Para masiguro na yung mga pupunta dito ay hindi mapapahamak because of the ordnance,” he said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had earlier said the Maute crisis couild end by Sept. 30 based on the estimates of ground commanders.
