Unexploded ordnance hinder Marawi clearing

SAGONGSONGAN, MARAWI CITY — Clearing operation now goes in full throttle in war-affected areas here, even as government personnel have difficulty in dealing with unexploded ordnances (UXOs) buried some 10 meters deep.

“Ang challenge natin sa clearing operations ay maraming UXOs ang masyadong malalim ang pagkakabaon, mahirap i-excavate,” said Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., Deputy Commander of the Joint Task Force Ranao (JTFR).

Already, Brawner said the JTFR operatives have finished clearing three of the nine ‘sectors’ of the whole ground zero in Marawi City as of January 18.

The Army Engineers, the Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD) and the K9 Unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as well as the Philippine National Police (PNP) are now conducting clearing operations in ‘Sector F’ which covers the two barangays of Kapantaran and Wawalayan Marinaut.

At least 50 percent in said area (Sector F) has been cleared or 35 percent of the 24 barangays in the most affected areas (MAA) in Marawi City, where the Daesh-inspired terror group have positioned in last year’s siege, are now free of the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnances (UXOs).

The JTFR divided the most affected areas into nine sectors for easy monitoring on the progress of the clearing operations.

“We have finished clearing 35% of the whole MAA in terms of area but not of the density of the UXOs and IEDs kasi mas marami ang kailangan nating i-clear sa Sectors G, H and I,” Brawner explained.

These areas, he said, were the last stronghold of the terror group adjacent to the lake considered as the last lifeline of the terrorists fighting the military.

“Ang challenge natin sa clearing operations are some explosives being buried 10 meters deep creating a 10-meter diameter crater,” Brawner said, disclosing they’re targeting to finish the clearing by April 3 so as the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) can start with their rehabilitation and reconstruction.

“But it still depends on the number of UXOs we found inside,” he said.

From October of last year to date, Brawner said the clearing team had recovered and disposed of 560 units of UXOx and IEDs.

“In a meeting with Sec. (Eduardo) Del Rosario with the municipal mayors of Lanao del Sur yesterday (January 18), he assured them that they can see and visit the ground zero when the clearing operation is finished before the TFBM will start with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the city,” Brawner said.

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