AFP: Almost 90% of Marawi cleared of Maute

MANILA, Philippines - Troops have cleared almost 90 percent of Marawi City where gunmen of the Maute group have been fending off security forces, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said yesterday.

Padilla reiterated the call for the Maute group to surrender while there is still time as troops are preparing to rescue the civilians still trapped in the city.

“We call on the remaining terrorists to surrender while there is an opportunity,” Padilla said.

Padilla said 960 civilians have been rescued, and an estimated 1,000 residents remain trapped. The dead include 89 militants, 19 civilians and 21 government forces.

Six policemen were reported still missing since the firefight with the Maute group broke out last week, the Philippine National Police added.

Padilla said eight militants surrendered and they provided what he described as “very valuable intelligence” during questioning,

On the other hand, a video of a Catholic priest taken hostage is being assessed by experts, he added. 

Padilla said the video seems authentic, but the Rev. Teresito Suganob appeared to be speaking under duress and the militants are apparently using the video for propaganda.

Suganob and 14 others were snatched while inside the St. Mary’s Church in Marawi City on May 23 in the thick of the gunbattle between government forces and Maute extremists.

In the video, Suganob said he is being held alongside 200 other captives, including children, in what appeared to be a battle-scarred part of Marawi.

“We want to live another day, we want to live another month,” Suganob said while standing in front of debris and partially burned buildings. Directing his remarks to President Duterte, Suganob said: “We want to live few years and in your generosity, Mr. President, in your heart, we know you can make something (happen).”

Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña confirmed that it was Suganob in the video.

Padilla said there have been efforts to reach out to parties who may conduct backchannel talks to help free the hostages. He assured the captives’ families that the military is doing its best to keep them safe. He did not elaborate.

“As of this time, as I’m making this report and days prior to this, there have also been efforts to reach out through the backdoor for talks with possible parties who may help,” Padilla said in a press briefing in Malacañang. – With Alexis Romero, Roel Pareño, Emmanuel Tupas, John Unson, AP