Three dead, 12 hurt in Marawi City as troops pursue Maute bandits

Three government troopers were killed while 12 others were wounded following clashes with the lawless Maute Group in Marawi City.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at a briefing in Moscow also confirmed that Maute fighters still occupied the city's main street and that they had burned schools, a chapel and a jail.

"As of tonight, there were three killed government troops, one PNP and two army... and 12 wounded," said Lorenzana, who's in Russia as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's delegation on his official visit

"The whole of Marawi City is blacked out, there is no light and there are Maute snipers all around. So the troops are still on holding and several troops have joined them from other several neighboring units," he added. 

"Our troops reacted properly but as of tonight, the Maute group burned several facilities, the St. Mary's Church, city jail, the Ninoy Aquino school and the Dansalan college. The Maute fighters still occupy also the main street of Marawi City," Lorenzana said. 

Lorenzana added that on Wednesday, more troops from Zamboanga and Manila would be brought into Marawi City. 

He also confirmed, based on reports he obtained from soldiers, that there were no civilians roaming around the streets as they stay in their houses.  -NB, GMA News