AFP regains Marawi police station, trying to recover grand mosque

August 24, 2017

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have retaken the Marawi police station from the hands of the Maute terrorist group and is focusing on the recovery of the grand mosque.

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesman, said the military forces were able to clear the police station last Tuesday.

“Our forces have already recovered the police station of Marawi which is one of the first (structures) which have attacked and occupy by the terrorist Maute last May 23,” he said.

Padilla said the military is focusing on clearing of the grand mosque which is believed to have been used by the terrorists for a very long time.

“Our troops are presently focusing on the entry and recovery of the grand mosque, and after that we still have to conduct clearing operation,” he said.

Padilla also emphasized the importance of the recovery of the Marawi police station which was according to him ransacked by the terrorists.

“The recovery of this is very important because it is placed in a strategic location which we think is very significant (for our operation),” Padilla said.

Padilla said despite the latest development, government forces are still working to clear more than 300 structures in the city.

He said as of Thursday, the number of government forces killed in Marawi City still stand at 129, while there are 595 terrorists killed. Robina Asido/DMS