Maute gunmen using unexploded bombs from planes in fight vs gov’t troops
Three soldiers died while 52 others were injured when they took back control of Bayabao Bridge in Banggolo last week.
Capt. Joane Petinglay, spokesperson of AFP Joint Task Force Marawi, said most of those injured were inflicted by IEDs.[]
A military officer who is familiar with the fighting said the terrorists got hold of explosives by salvaging unexploded ordnance and bombs dropped by the Philippine Air Force warplanes.
“They cut up the shells and bombs to get to the gunpowder and put them in small plastic bottles. They really know the stuff,” he said.
Galvez said the ISIS gunmen inside Marawi were able to get reinforcements despite the presence of gunboats watching Lake Lanao, the country’s second biggest lake.[]
He said reinforcements of one or two persons hide behind water lilies or water hyacinths to camouflage themselves and taking advantage of bad weather at night.
“We believe one or two gunmen were able to reinforce those in the main battle area using these tactics,” Galvez said.
Last week, government troops repulsed a small group of terrorists out to attack the nearby town of Marantao and spoil the opening of classes at the Mindanao State University.
Government troops also killed 10 gunmen trying to sneak into Marawi City in small boats. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)
