AFP verifying reports: More Maute hostages killed, some forced to collect bombs

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is validating reports that the Maute group are forcing their hostages to pick up bombs within the conflict zone in Marawi City, a military spokesperson said Sunday.

"We have reports on the ground that hostages are being used as human shields. Ginagamit nila even iyong pagkolekta ng mga bomba, paggamit sa kanila sa manpower. These are all the things na kailangan nating [i-verify]," Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, spokesperson of the military's Task Force Marawi, said in a press conference.

"This is really a violation of the rights of these hostages," he said.

Herrera added that they have also received "unvalidated" reports that several hostages have been killed by the Maute group.

"These are all unverified. We want to collate evidence-based results," he clarified.

The military has yet to determine the actual number of people being held hostage by the Maute group in the conflict zone.

Among the hostages was Father Chito Suganob, who was abducted by the Maute group along with several parishioners during the May 23 attack that prompted Presidnet Rodrigo Duterte to place Mindanao under martial law.

The military has confirmed that 26 civilians have been killed by the Maute group.

The military spokesman said that another information they were still validating was the supposed escape of Isnilon Hapilon, reportedly the anointed leader of Islamic State-allied groups in the Philippines.

He said that based on information gathered by the military from the ground, Hapilon has not been heard ordering the Maute group members fighting with troops.

"Ang take po natin dito ay may mga reports na lumalabas na because hindi na siya naririnig, hindi na siya namo-monitor commanding troops on the ground, may lumalabas na wala siya doon sa conflict area," Herrera said.

He assured that government forces have closed possible exit and entry points in Marawi City.

He said the only militant leader who has been monitored by the military was Abdullah Maute, one of the Maute brothers who established a local terror group based in Lanao del Sur.

In an earlier radio dzBB interview, Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said they have information that some of the hostages are being made to wear the Islamic State's black uniform to make it look like they are fighters.

Galvez also said hostages are also being ordered to place obstacles around the areas being controlled by the Maute group.

He also said some of the young hostages of the terror group are also being forced to bear arms and placed on the front line of the battlefield. 

"Based on our information na ginagawa nilang parang mga sundalo ang kanilang , pinagyu-uniform nila ng ISIS. Sila ang ginagawang tagaluto at tagabuhat ng pam-block ng dinadaanan namin," Galvez said.

"Inaarmasan nila so ilalagay sa frontline. Forced recruitment ng miyembro para makita na mas marami sila," he said, adding that these are among the factors that make the military's operation to retake Marawi from the Maute group more difficult.

The military on Sunday implemented an eight-hour ceasefire to allow Marawi City's Muslim residents to celebrate Eid'l Fitr. The ceasefire started at 6 a.m.

Assistant Secretary Dickson Hermosa of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process that five rescue teams of Moro Islamic Liberation Front will enter the conflict zone before the end of the ceasefire to look for trapped civilians.

Authorities said the number of trapped civilians within the conflict zone was between 300 and 500. —ALG, GMA News