More hostages than earlier thought remain in the hands of terrorists in Marawi City, the military said Saturday, citing information from rescued captives.
Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Group Ranao, told a weekend news conference 17 hostages rescued from the Islamic State-linked Maute group earlier this week disclosed the information.
“There are estimated to be between 40 and 60 hostages. The Maute is [estimated to number around] 38 to 48,” said Brawner.
The military had earlier estimated that 20 hostages were in the hands of terrorists.
“We believe we were not able to see everybody. There were many others hiding in basements,” Brawner said.
Brawner said the remaining hostages were scattered and hidden in different mosques and buildings in the battlefield, estimated to have shrunk to between five and seven hectares.
“Some of the hostages were given firearms and forced to fight with Maute/ISIS. They are considered combatants. Our government forces are allowed, for self-defense, to neutralize these combatants” he added.
He said terrorists still controlled several structures in the area, including mosques.
While running out of food and ammunition, the terrorists continue to fortify their defensive positions in areas they still occupy.
Brawner said despite a change of command in the Philippine Army, its newly installed chief Maj. Gen. Rolando Bautista, 1st Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Roselier Morillo, and Joint Task Group Marawi leader Maj. Gen. Danilo Pamonag have said there would not be any tactical changes in the offensives.
Instead, there would be “renewed operations” aimed at finishing the fighting, which has been going on for nearly five months now.
On Wednesday, the military rescued 17 hostages—nine men and eight women, including teachers who had been held captive since the start of the siege on May 23.
Those rescued are currently “undergoing a process” in Marawi City, Brawner said, adding they were already able to talk with their loved ones through mobile phones.
Over 770 terrorists and 157 government forces have been killed in 138 days of fighting in Marawi City as of Saturday morning, Brawner said.
At least 1,750 civilians have also been rescued by the military.