MANILA — Philippine Navy (PN) operatives played a key role in thwarting Maute Group’s design to create a caliphate in Marawi City.
This was emphasized by PN flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado who added that Marine Battalion Landing Teams, Marine Special Operation Groups, and Naval Special Operations Group were among the first military units to respond when fighting started last May 23.
“Our Marine Battalion Landing Teams, the Marine Special Operations Group and Naval Special Operations Group were among the first responders to thwart the execution of the Maute Grand plan of establishing a caliphate in Marawi City,” he said.
Marines units deployed in Marawi fighting include Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 and 7.
Incidentally, Marine Battalion Landing Team 7 is the unit responsible for the recapture of three vital bridges in Marawi City -Mapandi, Banggolo and Masiu – and allowed quick deployment of government troops and vehicles in the Main Battle Area and contributed to the eventual defeat of the Maute Group.
Not to be outdone, naval intelligence operatives were also in the thick of the fight as they provided the critical information on the whereabouts of the terrorist leaders at the very start and up to the end of the Marawi Siege, Mercado pointed out.
“On the other hand, our pilots aboard of our Agusta helicopters (AgustaWestland AW-109s) provided the aerial intelligence surveillance and (recon) operations and the air strikes day and night to support the operating ground troops,” the PN chief added.
He also said Navy “Seal” teams helped in preventing the terrorists from getting resupply and reinforcements by providing by providing continuous maritime patrols and interdiction operations in Lake Lanao
“These (tactics) prevented the use of the lake as the logistics highway and an entrance for reinforcement and an escape route from the Main Battle Area,” the PN chief pointed out.
Around 920 Maute Group terrorists were killed in the five-month campaign that started last May 23 when government troops tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and his cohorts.
In the fierce fighting that followed, around 165 government troops were killed and this includes 35 marines. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
