17 more Maute hostages rescued by state forces

LANAO DEL SUR --- Five of the 17 hostages rescued by soldiers before dawn Wednesday from the Maute terror group are teachers in the Dansalan College in Marawi City.Senior officials of the Department of Education said Wednesday they are grateful to security forces that rescued the teachers, now in undergoing tactical debriefing.Officials of the Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao told this news outfit that the hostages were rescued amid gunfights around the remaining area in Barangay Lumbac Marinaut in Marawi City where Maute gunmen are still holding out.The five teachers were among more than 20 people abducted by Maute terrorists who stormed the Dansalan College campus on May 23 as they laid siege to Marawi City, sparking hostilities that have since dragged on.Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr. of the Western Mindanao Command declined to give details on how the 17 hostages were rescued, hinting that operations are still underway to rescue many other captives terrorists are using as shields to prevent soldiers from closing in. Image may contain sky outdoor and nature sand//scontent.fmnl13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20914291_1420768094697450_8793089146183543374_n.jpg?oh=6ed2def5912a30b3a22469c457b4a485andampoe=5A496D7D Image may contain sky tree outdoor and nature sand//scontent.fmnl13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20882102_1420768128030780_557692833724687941_n.jpg?oh=32982465e67f1ede0849c36048f6edc4andampoe=5A4BDA2C Image may contain one or more people and outdoor sand//scontent.fmnl13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20882571_1420768141364112_2335056762512660314_n.jpg?oh=eb8ebdda44c412c5e460eed831c56998andampoe=5A7CF3BA Police officials in Marawi City said the terrorists guarding the 17 hostages scampered away when they sensed that soldiers have surrounded their position.Four Maute gunmen were killed in the gunfight that preceded the rescue of the 17 hostages, sources from the provincial government of Lanao del Sur said.