TWENTY-TWO decomposing bodies believed to belong to Maute group fighters were retrieved by the state forces from two buildings in the main battle area of the conflict in Marawi City since Tuesday, a military official said Wednesday.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Restituto Padilla said 18 cadavers were retrieved from one building while four in another building, which was previously occupied by the terrorists.
He said the cadavers were all male and had no indication that among them were minors.
"Dito 'yung pinagmumulan ng retaliatory fires noong pumapasok tayo sa lugar na ikinasugat ng ating mga kasmahan. Dito rin nanggaling RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) na nakatutok sa tropa (during the battle),"
[This is where the retaliatory fires were coming from when we were trying to penetrate the area which causes the injury to several of our men. The RPGs also came from this position during the battle.]
Padilla said they have sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives for the identification of the bodies.
He said they are positive that among the recovered cadavers were those of the leaders of the Maute terror group.
Padilla said they also recovered eight high-powered firearms including two RPGs, four M16, and M4 and M14 and dozens of improvised explosive devices believed to have been manufactured in the war zone.
Padilla said the security forces are clearing an area of at least five hectares where Maute fighters along with their hostages are holed up.
He said the terrorist are still holding at least 42 hostages.
He said based on the accounts of the rescued hostages, at least 40 rebels are still in the main battle area of the war but some of them were injured. (VoxPop Philippines)
