By Michael Punongbayan
MANILA, Philippines - The military is fighting some 30 to 40 remaining members of the Maute terror group in Marawi City, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said yesterday.
“I think there are 30 to 40 left but these are the good fighters. In fact, we are still sustaining casualties. Our latest three days ago was one killed and about nine wounded,” he told reporters in an interview in Camp Aguinaldo yesterday.
However, since these are the better fighters, government troops still have to be careful in dealing with the enemy.
On Sunday, Lorenzana disclosed that five soldiers were wounded in the fighting in Marawi.
Lorenzana said military forces are continuously clearing the areas still occupied by the Maute group, going house to house and room to room.
He said the operations are tough, noting that government troops believe the enemy is still holding at least 30 hostages who are being used as human shields.
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