Marawi attack could have been plotted for a long time – AFP spokesperson

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said. (PCOO photo)

MANILA–It is very likely that the Maute Group terrorists have planned their attack for some time as evidence by their continued resistance to government forces despite suffering severe losses.

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla when asked on how the remnants are still being able to fight despite the government’s overwhelming firepower.

“They have planned for this for a long time and may have laid caches of arms in certain areas that will sustain them as they move into the interiors when they make a retreat or consolidation,” he added.

Adding to their weapons and supplies is that the lawless elements have managed to capture arms and ammunition from the police and jail stations very early in the conflict.

“Even before the fight started they were able to get hold of ammunition and firearms in the arms caches of prison, of the police stations and other equipment so the collective sum of all these items is a sizeable cache (and could be) sustaining them for sometime,” Padilla said.

As of 6 p.m. June 15, the number of Maute Group members neutralized are placed at 225 with government losses at 59 and civilians executed by the terrorists at 26.

Civilians pulled out or rescued from the danger zone at placed at 1,629 and firearms recovered from the bandits at 208.