AFP now starting to negate Maute sniping capability
June 27, 2017, 10:22 am

MANILA, June 27 — Government forces are starting to negate the sniping threat posed by the remaining Maute Group remnants in Marawi City.

This was bared by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo in a briefing late Monday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“(They still have snipers but) we have gradually negated that advantage and now we have the momentum and the tempo of the operations,” he added.

For operational and security reasons, the military official did not reveal their tactics in dealing with Maute Group snipers.

The AFP earlier said that these anti-sniping operations has so far accounted for an estimated 90 to 100 Maute Group snipers in the past few weeks of operations.

Conflict in Marawi City started when government forces attempted to arrest Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon, the ISIS “Emir” in southeast Asia, last May 23.

As of this posting, the number of terrorists neutralized by military operations is now at 290 with the number of government troops killed in action at 70 and 27 civilians executed.

Number of firearms recovered from the lawless elements are placed at 347 with the remaining hostages placed at 150 to 200.

Number of remaining active Maute Group terrorists are placed between 100 to 120, Arevalo said. (Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)