Military captures Maute group's camp in Lanao del Sur

Days of sporadic fighting between the military and members of the Maute group in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur, have resulted in the deaths of 36 rebels and the wounding of three soldiers, an Army official said Monday.

The clashes also resulted in the capture of the ISIS-linked group's camp in Barangay Gacap where a Philippine flag was raised Monday afternoon.

"We captured the camp this morning after a final assault," said Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, spokesperson for the Army's 1st Infantry Division. "We captured it around 10 a.m and at around 2 p.m., we raised the Philippine flag there."

The flag-raising ceremony was led by Brig. Gen. Rolando Bautista, 1st ID commander.

Government soldiers began the assault Friday last week, sparking firefight with around 162 members of the Maute group that lasted until the camp's capture on Monday morning

Recovered from the site of the clashes during clearing operations were various war materiel, including improvised explosive devices and components, fragmentation and rifle grenades, military uniforms, and Indonesian passports.

Herrera said information from various sources indicated that 36 members of the group were killed in the fighting, though only three bodies — two of them foreign-looking — were found in the camp.

"They're probably Indonesians or Malaysians but this is still subject to validation," Herrera said.

The clashes prompted local authorities on Sunday to place Piagapo under a state of calamity.

Piagapo Mayor Ali Sumdanar said a total of 416 families or 1,828 people have fled from Barangays Gacap, Tambo, Pantaon and Tapucan due to the military offensive.

Piagapo has a total of 37 villages. —KBK, GMA News