Marawi City is left with destroyed and damaged buildings and houses after 100 days of intense fighting between government troops and Isis-Maute gunmen. (photo by froilan gallardo)
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FEMALE TOUCH. A contingent of 102 female soldiers and policewomen — 62 from the Philippine Army and 40 from the Philippine National Police — arrived on board a C130 plane at the Laguindingan Airport on Tuesday. The soldiers and policewomen who are trained to do psycho-social intervention were deployed to evacuation centers in Marawi City and Lanao del Norte. (photo by froilan gallardo)

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By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent

THE Armed Forces Western Command said the military expects the “liberation” of Marawi in less than a month.

The projection came as the fighting in Marawi City marked its 100th day Wednesday with the government calling on the public to support its troops.

“The AFP calls upon all our citizens of all walks and whatever faith to continue to manifest their support for our troops and unceasingly pray for an early resolution of this conflict,” Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said in a statement.

Loud explosions can be heard from the Lanao del Sur capitol as heavy fighting still continue unabated this week.

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano said the soldiers have encircled the terrorists “in a 500-square pocket” in Marawi City.

“Our main goal is no way in and no way out for them,” Ano said.

AFP Western Command Chief Carlito Galvez estimated that Marawi City would be liberated in “two to three weeks.”

The military allowed a group of some 50 journalists, photographers and TV cameramen to cross the Mapandi bridge in Marawi City on Wednesday.

The Mapandi bridge is one of the key, heavily contested infrastructure in the 100 days of fighting in Marawi.

Below the bridge, 13 Marines were killed when Isis-inspired gunmen ambushed them as they climbed up the Agus river banks last June.

The journalists did not find any remnants of the fighting nor on the streets leading to the bridge.

A long line of blue tarp was set up along one side of the bridge to prevent snipers from targeting the journalists, according to Joint Task Force Marawi spokesperson Capt. Joane Petinglay.

Petinglay said there is heavy fighting in Banggolo, Marawi’s commercial district, only two blocks from the Mapandi bridge.

“Some sniper rifles can reach up to two kilometers,” she said.

Three military trucks and ambulances ferried the journalists to Mapandi bridge crossing where they were told to stay for awhile.

Military officers led by Brig. Gen. Melquiades Ordiales had a press conference with the journalists on the streets.

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