Marawi generals cross critical bridges in battle area

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Generals leading the fight against local terror groups in Marawi City crossed the remaining critical bridges in the battle area Sunday morning, September 24, to mark a “significant progress” in the battle area. 

“At 10 am today, September 24, 2017, Major Generals Rolando Bautista and Danilo Pamonag, commander of the Joint Task Force Marawi and commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force Trident, respectively, crossed for the first time since the start of the Marawi siege, the Bayabao Bridge and the Masiu Bridge,” said Task Group Ranao deputy commander Colonel Romeo Brawner in a statement on Sunday. 

It was a symbolic march of victory over the hard-fought bridges, strongholds that the Philippine Marines were assigned to retake. 

Bautista and Pamonag crossed the bridge to meet the Philippine Marine Brigadier General Melquiades Ordiales, commander fo the Joint Task Group Tiger.

The 3 bridges – Baloi Bridge, Bayabao Bridge, and Masiu Bridge – long separated the battle area from the so-called safe zone.

These bridges are also known to locals as Mapandi Bridge, Banggolo Bridge, and Raya Madaya Bridge, respectively. 

The military continues to call on the local terror groups to release the remaining hostages and surrender. – Rappler.com