MANILA — Philippine Army (PA) units are still at the forefront in Marawi City but this time, to help clear unexploded bombs and other munitions left after the five-month battle.
This was announced by PA commander Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista during the Army’s 121st celebration rites in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Tuesday.
“In our efforts to support the Joint Task Force Bangon Marawi, the Joint Task Group Builder composed of the engineering units from the Army, Navy and Air Force was organized to provide manpower and equipment for the clearing operations for unexploded ammunitions and improvised explosive devices left in the Main Battle Area,” he added.
Fighting in Marawi City started when Maute Group terrorists led by the Maute brothers; and Abu Sayyaf leader and ISIS Southeast Asia emir, Isnilon Hapilon, conducted a series of attacks in the said city.
The conflict only ended when government forces managed to neutralize Hapilon and his Maute allies last October.
“But even at the height of conflict, the Army engineers already initiated the construction of Bahay Pag-asa Phase 1 and 2, a housing complex for the IDPs (internally displaced persons) of Marawi City,” Bautista pointed out. ( Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
