How fast time flies! Yes it was a year ago when we read the news that a group of armed Muslim fighters, now known as the Maute Group held the City of Marawi, closing all avenues to hostage the city. At that time, Pres. Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte was in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he had to cut short that meeting. To my mind, the Battle of Marawi City was the greatest test for our Armed Forces of the Philippines, which have long fought a guerrilla war with the Communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the hinterlands. But it was the first time our soldiers tasted what is called an urban warfare.
Indeed, the Maute Group confirmed what we already saw on Facebook during the time of then Pres. Benigno “PNoy” Aquino III that the Muslim separatists here have created an Islamic State in Mindanao. But unfortunately the Aquino regime denied this report. Hence, the Maute Group was able to stock firearms, ammunition and supplies within certain areas of Marawi City right under the eyes of our military intelligence. So when the Maute group struck Marawi last year, our AFP were unaware and unprepared for that eventuality.
Actually it started when the military and police went to Marawi City to arrest or capture Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of the ISIL-affiliated Abu Sayyaf Group, after receiving reports that Hapilon was in the city, possibly to meet with militants of the Maute Group. This triggered the first clashes and the offensive to retake Marawi City.
The Maute group militants attacked Camp Ranao and occupied several buildings in the city, including Marawi City Hall, Mindanao State University, a hospital and the city jail. They also occupied the main street and set fire to Saint Mary’s Cathedral and the Dansalan College, run by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. The militants also took a priest and several churchgoers as hostages or human shields.
The Philippine Air Force went on unprecedented bombing raids within the heart of Marawi. Our air superiority gave the AFP a chance to dislodge the well-entrenched Maute Group. All told, after five months of fighting, the Marawi Siege claimed a total of a thousand lives, of which 700-plus were terrorists, 160 were soldiers, and 47 were civilians. Although, at this time, reports have it that there were still certain people considered missing.
During the 120th anniversary of the Philippine Navy last Tuesday in Manila, Pres. Duterte said: “We had a very sad experience in the Marawi siege. And we all know... that we have fallen short in some respects the way it was handled. I assume full responsibility. I did not anticipate or even guess that there would be so much ordnance and the fight would take us about four months to finish. All of these faults, if it is indeed one, or our faults, it belongs and it falls on my shoulders as commander-in-chief.” The Battle of Marawi City became the longest urban battle in modern history of the Philippines.
On October17, 2017, the day after the deaths of militant leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon were confirmed and announced to the nation, Pres. Duterte declared Marawi was “liberated.” Then on October 23, 2017, Defense Secre-tary Delfin Lorenzana announced that the five-month battle against the terrorists in Marawi finally ended. But thanks to Marawi, the AFP has emerged as a strong force to fight international terrorists.
I will not let this column go without honoring a soldier who I believe is the Hero of Marawi. He is 24-year-old Private First Class Dhan Ryan Bayot, the epitome of the Filipino soldier, who died the very next day on May 24th (exactly a year ago today) of the Marawi Siege. Private Bayot was with five companions who were ambushed near the mayor’s house. When he knew he was surrounded and that he was beyond rescue, he radioed his commander: “Bomb my position.” And with that, even the Maute terrorists were all killed.
Four days later his body was found without a bullet wound, but his head was deformed and bore signs of being hacked to death. One of the people who retrieved his body was his father, Sgt. Larry Bayot of the Reconnaissance Com-pany of the 1st Infantry Division. Pvt. Ryan Bayot is a true hero that makes us proud of the Filipino soldier!
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