Military clarified that no indiscriminate bombing is being done by military forces in the present clearing operations in Marawi City.
“Walang indiscriminate bombing kagaya nung blanket bombing. Wala po yun. These are integral and part of the joint operations ng ating military,” Eastern Mindanao Command Martial Law Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said on Wednesday.
Gapay also said that air operations are integral to military operations.
“Joint kasi. When the military operates, joint yan. May air, may naval, may land forces, they operate jointly. Itong airstrikes natin and bombings, hindi indiscriminate ito. These are surgical airstrikes intended to neutralize enemies on the ground.”
According to the EastMin Comm Martial Law Spokesperson, the military is doing this because the situation in Marawi calls for it, citing the incidents where field soldiers found it difficult to enter the city during the siege.
“Kaya naman natin ginamitan nito ay dahil during the first few days of the marawi incident, marami po tayong casualties because of enemy fires and naka-deeply implace po yung mga enemy. They are in the buildings and pagpasok ng ating kasundaluhan, marami po tayong natamaan at nasugatan and casualties. Kaya po minarapat naming i-soften up, i-neutralize itong mga positions nila.”
Gapay also added that the air operations uses highly trained special operation forces.
“We are précised up to the nearest 10m. Kung 10m away ka, andito ako, ako lang yung tatamaan. Ganun ka précised ating mga airstrikes.”
Earlier this week, Moro leaders appeal to end air strikes in Marawi City to spare the lives of civilians and infrastructures in the city and instead, strengthen military operations on the ground.
