The spokesperson of the military – Task Force Marawi, Captain Joann Patinglay, confirmed on July 25 the highest cause of injury and death of government troops are from improvised explosive devices since the beginning of the armed conflict. / AFP PHOTO / ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES / HANDOUT
(Eagle News) — Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., advised residents of Marawi City to patiently wait until the military has finished clearing operations in the city, saying there were many explosive devices left by the Islamist militants in the area.
Padilla said that military’s priority is still the clearing of Marawi City and other affected localities of unexploded ordnance before the government can start a full-blown recovery and rehabilitation.
Very risky, complex tedious task
He said that there was a slowdown in the clearing of buildings in these remaining areas because of the huge number of unexploded ordnances in Marawi City.
“Previously, we were hitting about 50 or more than a hundred (buildings) per day. But unfortunately as we get into the main battle area, the complexity of clearing operations becomes all the more compounded,” he said during Monday’s (July 31) Mindanao Hour.
“Primarily because of many more unexploded ordnance. In fact, our EODs are putting their lives at risk, very much at risk, because of this very careful and very tedious task,” he added.
The AFP chief appealed to Marawi City residents for more patience saying their safety is more important. He said that the residents should only return to their homes when it is already completely safe.
He said the reason for this is to prevent more casualties on the civilian side because of these unexploded devices.
Padilla said this was what happened in Cambodia and Vietnam wherein after the war, the fields were literally littered with unexploded ordnances, which killed many civilians who returned after the war.
He said this is the situation in Marawi right now — the city is littered with these unexploded ordnances left by the Islamist terrorists.
“We do not want them to face this kind of danger,” Padilla stressed referring to the danger of being hit by unexploded devices in Marawi City.
In evacuation centers, they were safe and have been so far spared from this danger, he said.
‘Kaya ang hinihiling po namin sa kanila na konting pasencia pa po, dahil pati kami ay nagmamadali para maisagawa ang clearing na ito,” Padilla said.
Only residents living around Lake Lanao allowed to return
The AFP chief also clarified that those who were allowed to return were only those residents of communities outside Marawi.
“Non-Marawi City residents living around Lake Lanao were the only ones permitted to go back home,” a new release from Malacanang said.
Padilla said that the displaced residents of Marawi City who desire to stay with their relatives in other municipalities along Lake Lanao can still receive relief assistance from government.
Mindanao State University (MSU) is also not resuming its operations because of the dangers that threaten the MSU staff and students, he said, explaining that the military and the MSU management had previously agreed that the university will only resume operations once the city is cleared of all the dangers.