Galvez: “We will not bomb or target any mosque in Marawi”

Mosques are not targets of air strikes in this country’s lone Islamic City, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez,  chief of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said.

“I am a man of peace. We will not bomb or target any mosque,” Galvez told MindaNews in a text message Wednesday morning, clarifying media reports that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had opted to bomb mosques where the  Maute Group had reportedly encamped and used as machine gun and snipers’ nests.

Galvez explained that mosques and other religious and cultural places “have never been our target,” adding that this is “the reason why I had more than 50 KIAs (killed in action) and 297 WIAs (wounded in action) because of our extremely restrictive rules of engagements.”

Until now, he said, mosques are “no fire areas.”

Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson of the Provincial Crisis Management Committee told MindaNews that among the mosques in the conflict zone are the Jameo Mindanao Al-Islamie (Islamic Center) or what is referred to as the Grand Mosque, Bato Ali Mosque, Darussalam Mosque, Marinaut Mosque, Bro. Naga Mosque, Harat Medina Mosque.

The Marawi Crisis entered its 23rd day Wednesday.

In Malacanang, Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson clarified during the Mindanao Hour press briefing that they “will not bomb” mosques in the area.

Padilla read a statement “directly ordered” by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Eduardo Ano, categorically stating that the AFP has “not bombed and will not bomb mosques in Marawi” and that its leadership is “firm in its commitment to use other options that would flush out this Maute/Daesh-inspired group from these places of worship that they have converted into machine gun and sniper nest, defensive position, and arsenals for their war activities.”

The AFP assured Muslims that it will “not go down to the level of these terrorists who desecrate places of worship to lure government security forces into responding to their violent activities in a similar manner.”

The statement expressed confidence it will be able to retake the remaining portion of Marawi held by the Maute Group “through other options available to the Armed Forces.”

Padilla hoped the statement would be passed on “to our Muslim brothers and sisters who have since last night been clarifying the issue.”

Galvez said the Maute Group is “really a disgrace to the Maranaos.”

“They killed innocent civilians without mercy. They desecrated the Grand Mosque, Islamic Center and WAQF Building and made them as fighting positions and bases. They have no respect for anyone, destroyed places of worship our Muslim and Christian brothers hold dear,” he said.

But Galvez maintained that  “until now, mosques are no fire areas.”(MINDANEWS)

 

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