BY: Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
The Armed Forces of the Philippines declared yesterday that Marawi City is now on the road to normalcy as it no longer monitored any militants in the main battle area.
AFP spokesperson Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that clearing operations in Marawi City are now their priority and that only 36 of 96 barangays have yet to be cleared.
Padilla said during the Bangon Marawi press briefing in Malacañang that military operations are now starting to bear fruit.
“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 yesterday.
However, soldiers continue to discover unexploded ordnance in the city.
Padilla said yesterday that 16 more unexploded ordnance were found and addressed by explosives ordnance disposal experts.
“The clearing operations will continue. And we will continue to do this until we are fully convinced that all the improvised explosive devices, all the traps, all the unexploded ordnance that may remain in the area have been found and addressed,” Padilla said.
“This is to preclude any kind of hazard that may be faced by our civilians once we have opened up the area for the return,” he added.
