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[av_heading heading=’Palace exec cites ‘decisive’ military action in Marawi’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Wednesday, June 14, 2017
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MANILA – If not for the “early” and “decisive” military action, the conflict in Marawi City could have gotten worse, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Tuesday.
The government already knew of the details on the plan to attack the capital of Lanao del Sur province before May 23, Abella admitted in a press briefing.
“There were details regarding the plot, yes. And that is exactly why they (military) took advantage. They started to take action,” the Palace official told reporters.
“We need to take note of the fact that the early action of the military and the government has actually preempted their plans to be able to capture the city,” he added.
The ongoing clashes between government troops and the Islamic State-inspired Maute group in Marawi started after a botched military operation against the terrorist Isnilon Hapilon on May 23.
This prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to place Mindanao under martial law.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines had set June 12 as their deadline in taking full control of the besieged city.
Authorities raised the Philippine flag at the provincial capitol in Marawi during the 119th Independence Day celebration on Monday amid explosions.
“It seems that the resistance is dwindling,” but the government troops will continue their pursuit against the Maute group, Abella said.
“Tuluy-tuloy po ang laban. We will not stop until it’s finished. The June 12 was a working deadline set by the military,” he said. “As we have very well seen, the issue is more complicated on the ground.”
Abella added: “But considering the fact that they’ve (military) done great advances, I think we need to credit that.”/PN
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