(Eagle News) — Philippine government forces rescued several civilians, including an infant, trapped in Marawi City on Sunday (June 25) after an eight-hour ceasefire that was held in respect of the end of Ramadan, even as forces confirmed there were still 100 hostages held by Islamist militants.
Troops managed to secure six trapped civilians, including one infant, and a cadaver during the eight-hour ceasefire with Islamic State-linked militants who seized parts of Marawi City on May 23.
Government peace panel undersecretary Dickson Hermoso said that the rescued civilians were part of the hostages being held by the Islamist miltants.
He also mentioned that Catholic priest Teresito “Chito” Suganob, who was earlier taken hostage by the Islamist militants at the start of the siege in May had been seen alive.
“Still there,” Hermoso told journalists referring to the priest who was seen alive in an area still being held by Islamist extremists.
“Maybe, the next time that we negotiate that will be again (taken up),” Hermoso said.
He explained that the release was by “increment” as a group of emissaries talked with one of the leaders of the Maute group.
Hermoso noted that there was still some “sporadic gunfire” coming from the terrorists’ side.
The Islamist militants are believed to be still holding about 100 hostages. However, civilians trapped in the besieged city are still about 500 to 1,000, according to local officials.
Hostages being used as “human shields” by Islamist militants
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera said the militants were deliberately burning houses and using improvised bombs, booby traps and that the hostages were being used as human shields to delay the troops’ advance, five weeks into the fighting.
He said that the 100 hostages still in the hands of the gunmen were being used as “human shields”, ammunition carriers and stretcher-bearers.
Malacanang said a 79-year old civilian was also rescued during the eight-hour humanitarian pause on Sunday.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the temporary ceasefire between government troops and Maute militants was “generally peaceful” and resulted in successful recovery of civilians.
“The Humanitarian Pause was generally peaceful and as a result six civilians and one body of a civilian victim (killed by the Maute group) were recovered from inside Marawi,” Abella said in a statement issued via government-run Radyo ng Bayan on Monday, June 26.
As of 7 p.m. Sunday, Abella said government troops have rescued 1,702 civilians, killed 290 terrorists and recovered 347 firearms from the members of the Maute group.
At least 27 civilians and 70 soldiers have been killed by the terrorists, the Palace official added.
(with reports from Reuters, Agence France Presse)
