Heavy equipment and materials started to arrive at the besieged city of Marawi as the battle against ISIS-inspired extremists already reached its “last mile,” the military said Monday.
“We are happy to inform you that the arrival of heavy equipment to be used by Task Force Bangon Marawi for its initial ground work, for the recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi from the Armed Forces side engineering units are already there,” Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.
“And we will be hauling a little bit more equipment to help and work with the local public works department to effect all of these needed movement on the ground or improvement of the ground. We already started doing the relocation area. Halos tapos na po iyan, iyong pagtatayo na lang ng bahay.”
Earlier, Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez said several payloaders and backhoes have already been pre-positioned in Lanao Del Norte province as reconstruction efforts have already started.
Galvez said the heavy equipment will be used for the building of temporary houses of the residents, particularly in Barangay Sangonsongan who were displaced by the ongoing war which started on May 23 when Maute terrorists attacked the city.
Aside from the equipment, relief goods, hygiene kits, and toys also arrived for the evacuees, Galvez said.
On the 112th day of the Marawi siege, Padilla said that the fight against Islamic State-inspired terrorists already reached “its last miles.”
“The remaining areas were the rebels are held-up are getting smaller and smaller by the day. And as we clear more buildings, we deny them the opportunity to retake additional facilities or installations where they can hide. So they are actually concentrated on only a few,” the military spokesperson said.
“To stop the spread of terrorist ideology, we are working as one nation, pouring resources and infrastructure development in Mindanao while pursuing peace talks with the Moro rebels and pushing for legislation the creation of a Bangsamoro region within the sovereignty of the Republic. Let us continue to remain united in our concerted effort to defeat terrorism,” he added.
Some 655 enemies have already been killed, while government force who had been killed totaled 145. Civilians killed is at 45.
As this developed, the United States deployed the Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft Systems to Mindanao for additional surveillance in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines counterterrorism efforts.
Compared to current surveillance platforms used in the region, the Gray Eagle has a longer flight duration which will enable a larger area of reconnaissance and surveillance.
Over the past three years the US has provided the Philippines with assistance valued at over P15 billion, to establish better command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for the AFP.
Recent deliveries include a Raven tactical UAS and two Cessna-208B surveillance aircraft, as well as various munitions and weapons to support urgent defense and counterterrorism needs.
The long-standing military relationship with the Philippines enables the US to respond quickly to the AFP’s needs and to support the AFP’s modernization goals.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday vowed that the government would arrange free trips to Hong Kong for female soldiers assigned to the besieged city of Marawi, as he made his fourth visit to personally check the situation of the government troops who are on the frontline of the fight against terrorists.
In a Palace news release, Duterte promised female soldiers a vacation to the financial hub “after the crisis,” even as he gave goodies, watches to soldiers and cigarettes to boost the morale of the government forces in Marawi.
“I will not stop you because you’re under stress,” he said.
Duterte likewise went to the Grand Islamic Mosque who used to be the Command and Control of the Maute Terrorist Group and where some hostages hid.
He also proceeded to Mapandi Bridge and to the main battle area, where he gladly allowed photo opportunities with the troops to give them morale support.
The President also attended a command conference with the Joint Task Force Marawi.
In his speech, the President also thanked China for the rifles they have donated for the soldiers.
Duterte arrived about 2 p.m., together with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, AFP chief Eduardo Año and Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.