Maute-Abu Sayyaf make hostages wear their garb so soldiers will think they are foes: military   

June 22, 2017

MARAWI CITY –As fighting approaches one month, the military used its air power to continue bombing enemy positions here as they tried to take control of four villages from  Islamic militants. But the military said the Maute and Abu Sayyaf fighters have been forcing their hostages to wear their garb, expose them to the frontline where they could be mistaken for the attackers. Lt Col Christopher Tampus, commander of 1st Infantry Battalion, said: "Others were forced to dressed up with the uniforms of  Isis like a robe and they were used in the front line so they will be mistaken as enemies." "Yesterday, based on the accounts of some civilians that were able to get out from the war zone. Six civilians were used in the front line," he added. Tampus added some hostages have died of hunger not from bombings. He said their number one concern and consideration is safety of civilians as well as saving hostages. Tampus added Maute gunmen were  asking bullets from civilians as they entered residential areas. "They forcibly open houses, looking mainly for guns, ammunition, cash and jewelries," he said. Fighting began on May 23 when government forces tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, the reputed head of the Islamic State in Mindanao. But a big group  of gunmen, backed by an undetermined number of foreign fighters, fought them  More than 350 persons have died from the near month-long fighting. DMS