By Aaron B. Recuenco The provincial commander of Lanao del Sur--whose capital Marawi City has been reduced to a battleground—has been  relieved from his post effective Friday, June 2. The  relief was announced  only yesterday.  The announcement said the replacement of  the commander-- Senior Supt. Oscar Nantes – was effected “on orders of top officials at Camp Crame” in Quezon City.” Replacing Nantes is Supt. Restituto Lacano. It was not immediately clear why Senior Supt. Nantes was replaced at the height of the operations to clear Marawi City of Maute Group gunmen but national police spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said it would give the former opportunity for new assignments."It (the relief) will give a new frontier for Senior Supt. Nantes," said Carlos. Nantes’ relief came on the day—June 2—that government forces had committed—but failed-- to close and terminate Marawi hostilities. On the same day, President Duterte  had boldly  declared that he would free Marawi from the terrorist marauders  in what he termed “three days.”Ground forces commanders, however, have declared  that the location of mosques, the movement of civilians and the terrain of Marawi serve as “hindrances” to the complete recovery of Marawi from the terrorists. Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said Lacano was tapped until a permanent provincial director of Lanao del Sur. "He is on a hold-over capacity until the regular PD (Provincial Director) arrives," said Sindac. Nantes was the provincial director when government forces launched an operation to get Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon who was reportedly wounded in a  Sulu clash. But security officials were surprised as hundreds of Maute gunmen suddenly engaged them and started occupying various areas in downtown Marawi City. A significant number of  Maute gunmen, security forces and civilians  have died as a result of the clashes and airstrikes while Marawi City has been  turned into a ghost city as   thousands of residents  fled. Carlos said the ARMM regional police leadership was  open to the reshuffle as it  welcomed new blood in the campaign against Maute gunmen.