5 more troops killed in Marawi conflict

MANILA, Philippines - Five more soldiers were killed in action after intense fighting on Friday that enabled government forces to capture one of the Maute terror group’s strongholds in Marawi City, the military reported yesterday.

The captured Maute position is considered one of the key areas under military attack for the past weeks as part of the operations to clear the terrorists from Marawi since armed men attacked the city last May 23.

The death of the five soldiers brought to 105 the total number of troops killed in almost two months of fighting.

“We finally breached one of the strongest lines of defense and neutralized a number of terrorists but we also lost five men in the heavy fighting,” an officer, whose unit is also involved in the assault, said.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the Armed Forces Public Affairs Office (PAO), said some 428 terrorists and 45 civilians have been killed while 526 firearms have been recovered from the terrorists.

Military and civilian volunteers have also rescued 1,723 residents trapped in various wartorn villages.

The terrorists are reportedly still holding around 100 civilian hostages while 200 other residents remain still trapped inside the conflict zone located in the city’s central business district. 

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año, in yesterday’s joint session of the House and Senate on the extension of martial law in Mindanao, defended the military’s recommendation to President Duterte to extend military rule in Mindanao until Dec. 31.

Duterte declared martial law in the entire Mindanao after the Islamic State-inspired Maute group attacked Marawi City last May 23.

“We are moving. I cannot discuss with you on what is happening right now. Basta matindi ang labanan ngayon (there is intense fighting now),” the official told The STAR, when asked for details on the progress of the ongoing military actions against the terrorists.