Maute member facilitating entry of ammunition into Marawi captured —AFP

The military on Tuesday announced the arrest of a suspected Maute group member believed to be transporting the militants' ammunition into Marawi City.

Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, spokesman of Task Force Marawi, said that soldiers captured the suspected Maute member with a boat the previous day.

Based on the investigation, he said the suspected Maute member was the one transporting the ammunition supply of the local terror group into the besieged city.

Herrera added that the suspected Maute member was also the one transporting wounded militants from the main battle area to south of Lake Lanao.

"Kahapon meron tayong na-capture na isang tao with a bangka... We found out that this captured Maute is the one facilitating the entry of ammunition. Ito rin yung taong nagdadala ng mga wounded galing sa main battle area papunta sa south ng Lanao Lake," Herrera said.

He said the arrest of the suspected Maute member was a big breakthrough because it cut off the militant group's ammo supply and escape route in Lake Lanao.

He added that it allows the military to establish a better defense around the lake.

"Ito ay ating na-cut off. Ito ay isang magandang balita sa 'tin dahil naharangan natin ang highway nila. Na-determine natin, nkapag-establish tayo ng depensa sa Lanao Lake," he said.

The ongoing conflict, which started on May 23, entered its sixth week on Tuesday.

The military said it has lost 70 men during the ongoing battle while 27 civilians have been confirmed killed by the Maute group, which had also lost 290 members. —ALG/KVD GMA News