MANILA, Philippines – Continued clearing operations in Marawi City yielded on Wednesday various kinds of arms, explosives, and communication devices found in abandoned homes surrounding Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Barangay Datu Saber.
During their search and inspection witnessed by the media, the military and the police had to kick the doors hard to open some houses and check the rooms, cabinets, and the bottom of beds. After three hours, authorities found stacks of ammunition for M16 rifle, M30 and .50-caliber machine guns.
Also recovered were shotguns and explosive devices, including an M203 grenade launcher, bullet-proof vests, gun holsters, and two-way radios.
Government troops invited journalists to observe the clearing operations to negate claims that they were looting houses left by residents affected by the war in Marawi.
Authorities already know the owners of the weapons and the devices but will not yet disclose their identities to the public, according to Senior Supt. Marlon Tayaba, battalion commander of the Police Regional Office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“We have identified kung kanino ito. Pero we cannot divulge right now,” said Tayaba, adding that all the recovered items had been “documented,” including the specific places where investigators found them.
“Investigation will be conducted so that we can determine kung ano talaga purpose, bakit may ganyang karaming bala, explosives at firearms [the purpose, why there are that many bullets, explosives, and firearms],” he added.
The Amai Pakpak Medical Center where policemen were earlier taken hostage by Maute rebels was supposed to resume operations on Sunday, June 11, in time for President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Marawi.
But many hospital employees dread reporting for work as clashes between government troops and Maute rebels continue in the adjacent barangay.
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