THE military is starting to degrade the sniping threat posed by the remaining Maute Group fighters in strife-torn Marawi City.
Armed Forces public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo, said, “We have gradually negated that advantage [sniping] and now we have the momentum and the tempo of the operations.”
For operational and security reasons, the military official did not reveal their tactics in dealing with Maute Group snipers.
The Armed Forces earlier said that the anti-sniping operations have so far accounted for an estimated 90 to 100 Maute Group snipers in the past few weeks of operations.
Conflict in Marawi City started when government forces attempted to arrest Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon, the so-called Isis “Emir” in Southeast Asia in May 23.
As of Wednesday, the number of terrorists “neutralized” by military operations was at 290 with the number of government troops killed at 70, and 27 civilians executed.
The number of firearms seized from the Maute Group were 347 with the remaining hostages placed at 150 to 200, according to the military.
The military also estimates 100 to 120 remaining active Maute Group members there, Arevalo said. (pna)
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