THE Armed Forces claimed that 65 Maute group members have been killed so far as government efforts to clear Marawi City of terrorists reached its eighth day.
AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla yesterday said the figures were as of 6 pm Monday.
Of the 65 terrorists killed, around 42 were confirmed by body count and the remaining 23 through eye witness accounts, he said.
He said government lost 20 men–17 soldiers and three police officers. But the wounded were placed at 72 or 69 soldiers and three police officers.
Padilla said number of rescued civilians have reached 560.
Padilla said military forces have full control of Marawi.
“We are in full control–meaning to say we can control who comes in and who comes out, who moves around and who doesn’t. And we’re trying to isolate all these pockets of resistance that have remained,” he said.
“We call on the remaining terrorists to surrender while there is an opportunity,” Padilla said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday said he expected clearing operations in Marawi City to be completed by tomorrow.
He said the timetable started on May 25.
Lorenzana said the operations to clear Marawi of terrorists was on track.
Fighting started when government security forces tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, a known ally of the group and Isis leader, last May 23. (pna)
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