Body of alleged foreigner found as troops regain control of key area

July 4, 2017

MARAWI CITY — At least 11 foreigners have been killed in the ongoing battle between government security forces and Islamic State-inspired terrorists in the southern Philippine city of Marawi, a military official said Tuesday. Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, Joint task Force Malawi spokesman, said troops also captured Monday a  stronghold of Maute and Abu Sayyaf gunmen as fighting continued for 43rd day in the main battle area. Herrera said the body of a man “ believed one of the reported foreign fighters from Singapore” was recovered as soldiers took control of  Dansalan College. Herrera said the college host to some high-rise structures that serve as the Maute group’s machine gun nest and snipers' vantage position. A total of 11 suspected foreign fighters have been reportedly killed so far,” he said. Said to have been killed were two Malaysians, two Saudis, two Indonesians, a Yemeni, a Chechen and  two Middle Eastern looking men. “Troops recovered Cal .50 heavy machine-gun and 14 other high powered firearms as they wrest control of the school,” he said. He reported since  May 23 around 410 firearms were recovered by troops in the clearing operations. Brig. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, commander of Joint Task Force Marawi, said 1,717 trapped civilians were rescued by troops from the war zone. Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of Westmincom, said about 300 to 500 civilians are still trapped from the original estimate of 2000 to 2500. DMS