Gov’t recovers 347 firearms, hundreds of communications equipment from terrorist groups
Hundreds of militants, flying the flag of the Islamic State group and backed by foreign fighters, seized swathes of Marawi in the southern region of Mindanao last month, sparking bloody street battles and raising regional concern. / AFP PHOTO / Ted ALJIBE
(Eagle News) — The Philippine military said that they have recovered at least 347 firearms and hundreds of communications equipment from Islamist militants who continue to hold on to a “limited” area of Marawi City, as they announced to the public that there is a leadership crisis in the Islamist terrorists’ group.
Task Force Marawi spokesperson Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera said that the government forces are close to achieving victory as they close in on the remaining Islamist militants who now have a “very limited area of maneuver space.”
Herrera noted the “crumbling of leadership inside the conflict zone or in ground zero.”
“We have validated reports that there are leadership problems inside. They also lack ammunition. They also have very limited maneuver space. Ibig sabihin nun, lumiliit na ang mundo nila (That means their world is getting smaller)… Lumiliit defensive positions nila (Their defensive positions are getting smaller),” he explained during a press briefing.
He said that the morale of the Islamist terrorists is low and getting weaker as there is infighting among them because of money problems and dwindling resources.
“We have recovered 347 firearms,” Herrera said.
We have recovered hundreds of communications equipment,” he added.
With most of the communications equipment of the Islamist extremists in Marawi City down, they now have problems on how to communicate with their supporters and sympathizers and other men, noted Herrera.
This has affected the tactical placement of the troops of the Islamist militants.
With money problems and resources dwindling, and many of the Islamist fighers losing heart, he said that there were groups from the Islamist forces who want to get out and escape.
“Because other groups want to get away from the battle zone. In other words, gusto na nilang lumayas,” Herrera said.
The military is also trying to validate reports that even Abu Sayyaf leader and reported IS emir in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon, had already fled the center of the fighting in Marawi City.
“There are reports that Isnilon Hapilon has slipped away. However we are making continuous validation,” Herrera said.
With the Islamist militants losing ground, all they have is their remaining firepower, he noted.
‘Yun lang ang puede nilang gawin to fire back,” Herrera said.
“But we are now pushing them to their death. So yun talaga ang mangyayari doon,” he added.
(Eagle News Service)
