Fighting in Marawi winding down, says military

MANILA, Philippines — Government forces have regained "complete" control of Marawi City as the clash with members of a local terror group comes to an end, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Monday.

Armed forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that only small areas of Marawi are under the control of the Maute group after six days of fighting.

"We have complete control of the city, by the way, contrary to what is coming out in social media and other information, perhaps some fake news. It is not true that half of the city is controlled by the rebels," Padilla said at a press briefing.

In addition to civilians, about 61 militants, 15 soldiers and three police were among the dead as result of the violence in the city.

Padilla added that the military's ground commanders have assured them that the end of the clash with the militant group is near.

"Although we do not have a timeline, we're seeking to end this as soon as possible," the AFP spokesman said.

READ: Marawi crisis: What we know—and don't know—so far

The areas of Marawi where the militant group continue to hold are subjects of clearing operations, according to Padilla.

Padilla said they have received information that there are only 40 to 50 remaining armed elements in Marawi but warned that there may be more following the freeing of more than 100 prisoners in the city jail which they burned.

Some prisoners might have joined the ranks of the Maute group as some of them were imprisoned for having been its members, Padilla said.

"We are also aware that there are sympathetic elements that may have been helping and may have also joined their ranks so as to the exact number of terrorists still remaining, exact figures as of the moment are not available," the general said.

Hapilon's whereabouts

The military also believes that Abu Sayyaf subleader Isnilon Hapilon is still in the city.

"May impormasyon at naniniwala kami na nariyan pa siya at maaaring ito ang dahilan kaya ang pagdepensa sa mga ilang lugar ay nagiging matindi (We have information, and we believe, that he is still in Marawi and this might be the reason why defense of some areas is getting more intense)," Padilla said.

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The violence in Marawi erupted last Tuesday night when the government launched an operation to capture Hapilon, the country's most wanted terrorist.