Maute snipers fire guns at Lanao del Sur capitol designated 'safe zone' for media

Snipers suspected to be from the Maute group on Monday night fired guns at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol designated as a "safe zone" for members of media.

According to a report on Unang Balita on Tuesday by Jun Veneracion, gunfire forced people at the compound, including members of media, to seek cover immediately.

The provincial capitol, located in Marawi City, is just about two kilometers away from the center of fighting between government troops and the ISIS-linked Maute group, military officials said.

It was in the same compound that Australian journalist Adam Harvey was hit by the shrapnel of a stray bullet on Thursday.

No one was injured in Monday's incident.

Clashes between government troops and the Maute group have been going on since May 23 when the Islamist group attacked and torched areas in Marawi City.

Soldiers returning from the conflict area noted the stench of death coming from decomposing bodies that have not yet been retrieved. Stray dogs have also began feeding on the bodies.

A drone video obtained by GMA News shows a huge crater caused by a bomb dropped near a mosque believed to be used as a hiding place by the Maute terrorists. —KG/KVD, GMA News