Philippine Navy photos released to the Mindanao Examiner regional newspaper show soldiers and equipment sent to support troops fighting local ISIS group in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province.
DAVAO CITY – Philippine
Muslim rebels have offered to help the government rescue hundreds of civilians,
including a Catholic priest, being held by local ISIS fighters in the war-torn
city of Marawi in Lanao del Sur province.
Ghazali Jaafar, vice
chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, made the offer during a recent meeting
with President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City. Jaafar was with Murad Ebrahim, the
MILF chieftain, and other senior rebel leaders when the met with Duterte at a
military base to discuss the crisis in Marawi where militants are holding at
least 240 hostages.
“We have offered our
help to our beloved president to help facilitate the coming out of civilians
from their residences and the good president granted our request,” Jaafar said.
MILF members, who
were joined by armed civilians, had clashed with ISIS fighters in Marawi after
militants tried to blow up a bridge connecting several villages there. It was
unknown whether the MILF offer to help in the crisis would affect similar offer
by the rival group Moro National Liberation Front, whose chieftain, Nur
Misuari, said he is ready to deploy thousands of fighters to help security
forces battle the ISIS militants.
Security forces have already rescued over 500
civilians trapped in Marawi since the clashes erupted on May 23 when
heavily-armed members of the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf militants attacked the
city which caught soldiers and policemen by surprise. The military claimed
dozens of militants had been killed, but many soldiers and civilians also
perished in the violence with jihadists executing Christian villagers and
Muslims alike who they accused as “munafiq” or traitors to their faith.
On Wednesday, Duterte approved the setting up of
so-called “peace corridor” which will be implemented by the government and MILF
to “hasten the rescue and humanitarian operations for civilians still trapped
in the conflict zone in Marawi.”
The MILF vowed to cooperate with government in
securing the areas where these peace corridors will be established and utilize
existing peace mechanisms, particularly the Joint Coordinating Committees on
the Cessation of Hostilities. The peace corridor is a secure space where
humanitarian groups may evacuate wounded and trapped civilians and retrieve
dead bodies for burial.
The Naval Forces Western
Mindanao also sent off two vessels to Marawi on Tuesday to support troops
fighting the militants. Both ships - Landing
Craft 288 (BRP Waray) and 298 (BRP Ivatan) – were carrying Fleet-Marine Team
composed of combat service support elements and K9 units, including relief
goods for civilians affected by the conflict.
“These troops and equipment are
being sent to augment the military in the continuous fighting between the
government forces and Maute group in Marawi City. The AFP is positive
that these additional personnel and logistical support will strengthen the
military stronghold in the area and will eventually crush these lawless elements,” said Rear Admiral Rene Medina. (Mindanao Examiner)
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