41 Maute members, 13 gov't soldiers killed in Marawi —Army spokesman

The military on Saturday night said a total of 41 members of the Maute group and 13 government troops have been killed in ongoing operations in Marawi City.

Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 1st Infantry Division, told radio dzBB that only 31 bodies of the Maute members have been recovered by troops.

Herrera also reported that aside from the 13 soldiers killed, 45 more have been wounded.

He said 16  high-powered firearms of the Maute group members have also been recovered.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told radio dzBB on Sunday that eight bodies of civilians, mostly women and one or two children, were found by troops on Saturday night.

In a report, radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag said eight more bodies of men, who were workers of a bakery in Marawi City, were found on Sunday morning.

Padilla had said that the military is conducting surgical operations to clear the city of Maute members, who are believed to have deployed snipers and even child warriors against government troops.

The local terror group launch attacks in the city last Tuesday, setting fire to schools, a Church, and the city jail.

The attack prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao. —ALG, GMA News