Philippine military to send more soldiers to Marawi
More troops will be deployed to Marawi city in southern Philippines, to engage in the fight to liberate the city from the Maute Group, a Philippine military official said.
President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte visits a military unit in Marawi city on August 24 (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - More troops will be deployed to Marawi city in southern Philippines, toengage in the fight to liberate the city from the Maute Group, a Philippinemilitary official said.
Western MindanaoCommand chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez told a press conference in Marawi city onSeptember 25 that more forces will come in, explaining that some gaps have beenidentified, especially in the Lanao lake.
However, he refused to disclose the number of personnel who will be sent tofight the Maute Group and when they will be arriving in the city.
Galvez said soldiersare well-distributed in the city to ensure that the Maute members will not slipout of the battle zone.
He predicted that thefight would not take another month, estimating there are about 60 to 80 Mautemembers still in the main battle area together with about 45 to 50 hostages.
On September 18,Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said only an area of about 10hectares needs to be cleared.
The armed conflict,which broke out on May 23, has resulted in the death of 800 people and forcedmore than 500,000 others to evacuate.
Given this, President of thePhilippines Rodrigo Duterte announced the extension of martial law in Mindanaoprovince until the end of this year so that law enforcement forces can wipe allterrorists out of the country’s southern region.-VNA
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President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte visits a military unit in Marawi city on August 24 (Source: VNA) 
