22 October 2017•Update: 22 October 2017
By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY
Philippines' top military commanders on Saturday declared a total victory over the Daesh-linked group in Marawi City, as troops continued to push towards the few remaining militants defensive positions to finish them off.
Brig. General Danilo Pamonag, of the Task Force Marawi, spoke of victories during a send-off ceremony of the 10th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT10) in Marawi.
“I would like to say it’s already done. It’s a complete and total victory for the troops," he said. “You showed the determination to finish this campaign,” he told the troops. "In the past five months, you started with some 3,000 structures or buildings to be cleared and you were the first to reach the 'finish line and the first that reached the final objective."
The MBLT10 was behind the clearing of three bridges that connect the western part of Marawi city to the main battle area where the business center is located. It also secured the Mindanao State University (MSU) campus against the Maute fighters.
Pamonag described their mission in as one of the "most successful urban battles" that they have participated in since World War II, saying that it is a test of their determination.
Earlier that day, Western Mindanao Command chief Army Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. Galvez, who inspected troops in Marawi and sent off the troops of 1st IB and MBLT10 back to Luzon, expressed confidence that Marawi will be declared totally free from the Daesh-linked terrorist-initiated war that will finally end on its 152nd day on Sunday. "We would be able to clear it by Sunday, where armed will end and guns totally silent," he said.
According to Galvez, the operations are now focused only on a small area of position, more or less two buildings, inside the main battle area where the few remaining terrorists along with their three to four male hostages are hiding, but still resisting."There were still hostages who needed to be rescued, which was why soldiers were still not rushing things up," he added.
Aside from the Maute stragglers, Galvez said the troops were also tracking down the three sons of the slain emir of Daesh in Southeast Asia Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon who were with the Daesh foreign militants who have the potential to continue the Daesh caliphate threat in the country.
Galvez identified one of Malaysian Daesh terrorists as Amin Bacu and an Indonesian as Ibno Kayin who are still resisting the military's might along with the few remaining militants. They are now the target of the troops' finishing touches to finally declare the Marawi City siege over Sunday.
The five foreigners have reportedly been instrumental in facilitating the movement of foreign fighters in Marawi and have taken over the Maute group leadership following the death of Hapilon, Maute, and Mahmud Ahmad, another Daesh Malaysian militant.
Galvez said rehabilitation, including retrieval of the dead, would start after the end of hostilities is declared.
The Philippines estimates the rebuilding of areas battered by months of government airstrikes, which displaced hundreds of thousands of Marawi residents, could cost at least P50 billion ($971 million).
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier visited Marawi and declared its liberation from the influence of terrorists who suffered 897 deaths.
Since May 23, the number of military and police casualties has reached 165. The civilian casualties placed at 47 while 1,777 civilians, who were either held as hostages or trapped in the crossfire, had been rescued since hostilities broke out.
