Troops take down Maute sniper position in Mapandi, Marawi

Government security forces took down one of the sniper positions of the Maute group in Mapandi, Marawi City, a television report said Friday. 

A report by GMA News' Emil Sumangil on "24 Oras" said airstrikes on enemy positions continued and that government troops hit the location of Maute group members using the Philippine Air Force's OV-10 Bronco planes.

Mortar attacks soon followed, the television report added.

After the firefight, which lasted for almost three hours, troops returned to the "staging area" together with their two V-300 fire support vehicles, which were hit by rocket propelled grenade (RPG).

"Tinamaan ng RPG, ma'am," one soldier said.

The troops, however, were glad that they succeeded with their mission to paralyze the area of the local terrorists.

Meanwhile, the report also took note that as of 5 p.m., MG-520 attack helicopters of the Philippine Air Force again launched airstrikes in the area of Mapandi. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News