MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Reuters) – Residents took shelter at makeshift evacuation centers in the southern Philippines on Thursday (May 25), as government troops continued their assault against Islamic militants.
The Islamic State-linked Maute group occupied parts of the southern city of Marawi on Tuesday (May 23), prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in the entire Mindanao island.
Thirteen militants and seven members of the security forces have so far been killed and 33 troops wounded in the fighting, according to the military.
In Davao City, various checkpoints were placed on the entry and exit points, following a stricter security enforcement in Duterte’s hometown.
The group targeted Davao last year, killing 14 people.
The Maute and Abu Sayyaf militant groups have pledged allegiance to Islamic State, also known as ISIS, and have proved opponents for the military as Duterte seeks to crush extremists and prevent radical Islamist ideology from spreading in the Philippines.