MANILA,
June 20 -- Military engineering equipment and personnel are now being deployed
to Marawi City to help in the rehabilitation of areas devastated by the ongoing
conflict with Maute Group terrorists, said Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla on Tuesday.
This
deployment is based on an earlier order by AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año,
he added.
Military
engineering units and personnel will help other government agencies in the
proposed rehabilitation once the last Maute Group terrorists is neutralized or
driven away.
"They
are preparing (engineering units) already. In fact, there are already
engineering personnel in the area... They are slowly building up (personnel and
assets)... They are readying for the rehab," Padilla pointed out.
However,
the AFP spokesperson cannot give exact figures for engineering equipment and
personnel already in Marawi City but added that the military is planning to
deploy at least two engineering battalions.
In
the fourth week of the conflict which started May 23, a total of 258 Maute
Group terrorists have been killed along with 65 troops and police officers, and
26 civilians.
Also,
Padilla said a total of 16 buildings, formally occupied by the lawless
elements, have been captured in the past few days.
However,
he declined to comment on how many buildings are needed to be captured to
ensure the total elimination of the lawless bandits in Marawi City.
"Enemy
resistance continues to wane and the enemy held areas continue to diminish as
government security forces press its advance... Troops continue to get deeper
into once enemy held positions," the AFP spokesperson pointed out.
Fighting
as of this posting are still confined in four barangays, adding that the use of
snipers, improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades are slowing
down the progress of military personnel engaged in clearing operations. (Priam
F. Nepomuceno/PNA)#DEFENDREPUBLIC
