11 killed as Army presses air,ground assaults vs. Lanao Sur terrorists

MARAWI CITY -- The military today vowed to press offensives against a local terrorist group in the hinterlands of Butig, Lanao del Sur as fighting entered third day Sunday. Major Felimon Tan, speaking for Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade intensified its air and ground assaults against Maute Terrorist Group, a local jihadist sympathetic to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. For two days, the terrorist captured the entire poblacion of Butig, raising ISIS flag in front of the town hall and occupied the Butig National High School. Heavy firefight erupted Sunday morning with two MG-520 attack helicopters and ground troops firing artillery toward the town of Butig, located southeast of Marawi City. About six months ago, the same group occupied Butig town and was only driven away following fierce firefight. On Friday, the same group occupied the town, sending at least 16,000 residents fleeing to safer grounds. Two Army battalions are hunting down the terrorist group believed to be behind the Sept. 2 Davao City bombing that left 15 dead and 70 others wounded. Tan said the Army offensive was aimed at capturing the alleged leaders of the group, Omar and Abdullah Maute. As of Sunday afternoon, the military claimed it already killed at least 11 Maute gang members. Three soldiers were injured in the series of skirmishes. Lanao Sur Vice Gov. Mamintal Adiong, in a phone interview, said that the displaced families are housed in various evacuation centers in nearby towns of Lumbatan, Lumbayanague and Lumbaca Unayan. Local relief workers have started attending to affected families. (PNA)