Troops seize Indonesian passports at former Maute hideouts in Marawi

Government forces on Wednesday recovered ten passports of suspected Indonesian fighters in Marawi City.

According to a report by Chino Gaston on "24 Oras," the said passports were recovered in the houses that were previously held by the local terrorists.

"Wala po tayo naririnig na report na foreigners o Indonesia na kasama po sa hostages. Ang report po natin ay may mga Indonesians, fighters na kasama ng local terrorists na nandito ngayon sa main battle area," said Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force Marawi.

"It's actually a worldwide affair so naturally you would have foreign visitors here, foreign participants... They use it, took it as an opportunity... So probably yes, it could be..." Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong added.

The report said the military's Indonesian counterparts have provided them with passport photos of Indonesian nationals who are believed to be in Marawi City, wherein a woman was reported to be with them.

GMA News is trying to reach the Indonesian Embassy for comment.

Moreover, the report said authorities are now identifying the 17 bodies of civilians recovered in Barangay Gadungan.

Initial reports indicated that five of these bodies were decapitated.

Twenty-seven civilians were killed since the clashes between government troops and Maute group members started last May 23.

The military is expecting that the death toll will still increase.

"We could not include many of these because we have not validated or authenticated many of these information yet until such time, we will remain with those numbers," Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News