Soldiers rescue 120 hostages in Marawi City: military

May 25, 2017

ZAMBOANGA CITY - One-hundred twenty hostages were rescued by the miiitary as they regained control of some areas occupied by the Maute Group in Marawi City. This came after as government troops continue to advance to flush out the remaining members of the Maute Group, the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said. Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr., commander of Westmincom, on Thursday said 78 of the 120 hostages were rescued at the government-owned Amai Pakpak Hospital. They are 21 hospital staffs, eight patients, and 49 construction workers. Galvez said they were told that members of the Maute Group brought two wounded companions for treatment at the Amai Pakpak Hospital on Tuesday. “In the process, they held captives 78 people in the hospital,” Galvez said. He said the troops have retaken the Amai Pakpak hospital around 3 pm Wednesday. Galvez said the remaining 42 rescued hostages were teachers who were trapped inside the campus of the Dansalan College. The Maute Group burned a building of the school. Galvez said five soldiers and two policemen were killed while 31 were wounded. The Maute Group members also killed a security guard. As of 6 pm Wednesday, Galvez said 13 Maute members were killed. Of the total, the troops recovered the remains of the two followers. Galvez said, without giving names, that there are politicians harboring the Maute Group followers. “Many people in Marawi and in other areas are denying the presence of a looming terrorism threat in their communities. Sadly, we even received reports that there were even politicians supporting the group in some way,” he said. Galvez said joint military and police personnel are facilitating the safe and speedy passage as hundreds of people from Marawi City flee to nearby Iligan City. He said safety and inspections procedures have been adopted to prevent any member of the Maute Group to mix with the group. DMS