MANILA, Philippines - Remnants of the Maute terror group still holding out in Marawi City are struggling to survive since they are now running out of food and ammunition, a senior military commander said yesterday. Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Task Group Ranao, said there are indications that after more than three months, the fighting in the city will end soon. “There are lots of indicators showing that they are now running out of ammunition and food as shown by their much-weakened resistance in most areas where they are currently confined. Hopefully in the next few weeks this siege will be over,” said Brawner. The civilian hostages being used as human shields by the terrorists have prevented the military from delivering the final blow to the Maute members to end the conflict. “While our assault is ongoing, we are making sure that we will spare the lives of the hostages,” Brawner said. While the ground assaults are carefully being sustained, there are efforts to make sure that not a single terrorist – including overall leader Isnilon Hapilon – could slip out of the military cordon around the main battle area. Local officials of towns around Lanao Lake are assisting government troops to prevent the remaining terrorists from escaping. There were reports that terrorist sympathizers are now putting up as much as P50,000 rental fee for each boat ride that would ferry them toward the main battle area from the other side of the lake. “We are able to get full cooperation of the town mayors around Lake Lanao in barring any boat across Lake Lanao from sailing toward the main battle area,” Brawner said. On Monday, 10 suspected terrorist sympathizers on board two rented motorized boats were intercepted and killed in an encounter with patrolling elements of the Army’s Special Forces. Malacañang welcomed yesterday the offer of Australia to train government troops to boost their capability in the fight against Islamic terrorists. In a statement, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the government is open to get help from its allies to fight terrorism. “The fight against terrorism – to reiterate – is not only the concern of the Philippines, but it is a concern of many nations around the world,” he said. He also assured the public that Australia’s help will be limited to training, upgrading of technical capabilities and intelligence tactics. Despite the unwarranted attacks of President Duterte against some foreign nations and the United Nations for meddling in his drug war and foreign policy, Abella said the administration has not closed its doors to any assistance from other countries, including allies. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia is ready to help the Philippines in the fight against terrorism. Australia, which has an extensive defense cooperation with Manila, has already deployed two high-tech AP-3C Orion aircraft for surveillance. – With Sheila Crisostomo
