The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Major General Restitutio Padilla Jr. on Friday said the battle-damaged Marawi City is on its road to normalcy after they announced that there was no longer monitored terrorists in the main battle areas (MBAs).
Padilla said during the Palace press briefing that the last firefight recorded was on the 5th of November when they reported that nine Maute members were killed in the last stronghold that they had in the MBA.
“This has been the last. And that is why recently, there has been an announcement that we no longer sense or monitor any sign of life in the last main battle areas,” Padilla said.
As the clearing operation continues, Padilla said that the military also seized two more high-powered firearms in a lake, in addition to the 30 high-powered firearms they seized earlier.
“As of yesterday up to today, 16 more unexploded ordnances were found and addressed by our combined teams of explosives ordnance disposal experts,” he said.
Padilla assured that the forces will continue its operation until the war-torn city is free from all the remaining traps of the Maute group.
“We will continue to do this until we are fully convinced that all the improvised explosive devices (IEDs), all the traps, all the unexploded ordnance that may remain in the area have been found and addressed,” he said.
“And our road to normalcy, as we do this clearing and security operations is bearing fruit,” he added.
Padilla also reported that out of 96 barangays, 41 were relatively unaffected during the conflict.
“The road to normalcy is on its way and we are very fortunate that our engagements with the local government, as well as with the interagency task force are bearing very good fruits,” he said.