DEFENSE SECRETARY Delfin N. Lorenzana said on Monday that the number of religious militants fighting in Marawi City, which has been ongoing for more than two months now, is down to 30-40.

However, Mr. Lorenzana said these remaining members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group “are good fighters.”

“In fact, we are still having casualties. The latest casualty was three days ago, one killed and nine were wounded. Yesterday, we had five wounded, by God’s mercy, no one was killed,” he said.

Mr. Lorenzana also said that ground commanders estimate that about 30 hostages, down from an earlier approximation of up to 300, remain in the hands of the militants who are using them as human shields.

The Defense chief said they fear that the hostages will be used as suicide bombers.

“We are not sure if they will use the civilians for suicide bombing, we do not know. That is one of the soldiers fears: they will release them but they have bombs with them.”

In a separate press briefing at Malacañang yesterday, Brig.-Gen. Restituto F. Padilla, Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson said the operation in Marawi is now focused “particularly in areas where quite a number of unexploded ordinance and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) are still present.”

Mr. Padilla explained that government troops encounter difficulties in clearing of houses.

“Previously, we were hitting about 50 or more than a hundred per day. But unfortunately, as we get into the main battle area, the complexity of clearing operations becomes all the more compounded, primarily because of many more unexploded ordnance,” he said.

“[W]e just wanted to convey that even the relocation area is being hit by stray bullets up to this moment. But the workers doing are their part, (they) are preparing the relocations areas, continue to work even at the risk of their lives, because they need to do what they need to do in preparation for the return of the residents. And they are willing to put themselves at risk,” he added.

Mr. Lorenzana, who heads Task Force Bangon Marawi that will be oversee the rehabilitation program, said plans are ready and rebuilding will start as soon as the firefight ends.

As of July 30, 7:00 p.m., government said the number of militants killed has reached 491, while civilians at 45 and government troops, 114. — Jil Danielle M. Caro

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