Young officer’s promise to wed fiancee after Marawi siege broken by Maute sniper

Wedding bells will no longer be heard for a soldier in Marawi City after he was killed by a sniper of the ISIS-inspired Maute group.

A report on 24 Oras by Emil Sumangil on Tuesday said the junior officer from the Philippine Army's Special Forces had planned to tie the knot with his partner after he finished the mission in the war-torn city.

"Pinangakuan niya 'yung kanyang fiancee na ikakasal sila pag natapos itong Marawi siege. So hindi na po matutuloy ang kasal nila," said Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the Joint Task Group Ranao.

Brawner said there were still six to eight foreign trained snipers positioned in the main battle area.

"Magaganda 'yung mga armas nila, sophisticated. In fact 'yung mga narecover natin ay 'yung ibang mga sniper rifles nila... kung hindi katumbas nung mga sniper rifles natin ay mas maganda pa," Brawner said.

Government forces have been battling members of the Maute group after the latter attacked Marawi City on May 23, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entire Mindanao under martial law.

Military data said 158 soldiers and policemen, 774 terrorists and 47 civilians were killed in the ongoing conflict.

The military said they aim to clear the embattled Marawi by October 15. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News