Authorities on Tuesday urged the terrorists fighting government troops in Marawi to surrender.
“We are giving those inside an opportunity to surrender. There is still a chance to lay down your arms,” military spokesperson Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said over dzbb radio.
“If you do that, it will be better so no one else will be dragged into this, no more buildings will be destroyed.”
According to Ernesto Abella, presidential spokesperson, the call for the terrorists to surrender was made “to lessen the damage on the ground, definitely so the civilians will be less affected.”
The clashes between government troops and the terrorists in Marawi began last Tuesday, after security forces acted on a tip Isnilon Hapilon was in the city.
Hapilon, a senior member of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom gang, is on the United States government’s list of most-wanted terrorists.
He was being protected in Marawi by the local Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group.
President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Mindanao under martial law in response to the Marawi clashes. (Agence France Presse)