Maute dig ‘rat holes’ in houses to escape — military

Members of the ISIS-inspired Maute group tunneled "rat holes" under houses they were in to escape during clashes with government troops.

A 24 Oras report by Marisol Abdurahman on Wednesday showed 20-meter-long tunnels that the fleeing terrorists had dug under the houses serving as their hideouts.

"'Yung distance ng bahay nakita namin may mga hukay sila. Fortified talaga 'yung mga locations nila. Second attempt namin naipit 'yung 14 kong katao, naipit sa ilalim. So almost lahat ng paraan ginawa namin para di lang sila maiwanan doon sa loob," said Captain Jommel Parreño, company commander of the 3rd Scout Ranger Batallion.

The report said that in these "rat holes," the terrorists even had a place to sleep and cook.

Some improvised explosive devices (IED) were also recovered from the hideouts.

The report also said troops had a hard time in regaining control of a certain hospital within the war-torn city.

"Terrorists diba, so mga extremists. And then 'yung iba talaga na-indoctrinate na sila ng ISISso talagang namomonitor ko sa radyo mas gusto pa nilang mamatay," said Lieutenant Colonel Mon Almodovar, battalion commander of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion.

The military said they are determined to end the conflict in embattled Marawi.

"Inch by inch, the more we occupy space the less 'yung mga controlled areas nila," said Brigadier General Rolando Bautista, division commander of the 1st Infantry Tabak Division.

"Part of the assumption [is] there will be suicide bombing kasi lahat ng assumptions na 'yan fina-factor namin when we finalize. Sabi ko nga kay presidente, may video ako na pinakita sa kanya, 'Sir this is how brave your soldiers are despite na may casualties and fatalities, pero 'yung desire and motivation na finish 'yung crisis na 'yun," Bautista added.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the entire Mindanao after local terrorists attacked Marawi City on May 23.

More than 600 members of the Maute group have been killed in the ongoing clashes. At least 140 troops and 45 civilians, meanwhile, have been killed.

Thousands of people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News