Maute group members use mosques as defensive position, says military

The local terrorist group, Maute-ISIS, uses mosques as hideout and defensive position as shown in the video footage in the report of GMA News' Marisol Abdurahman for "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" Friday.

The video, which was taken from the main battle area in Marawi City, shows the exchange between the terrorist group and government troops.

One particular segment, however, stands out as it shows a Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher or RPG launcher fire from inside a mosque.

Mosques are religious places of prayer for followers of Islam faith, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier announced that they have been avoiding these structures during campaign against the Maute group.

The terrorists apparently know that the military has been avoiding hitting the mosques in the city.

Col. Romeo Brawner, Joint Task Force Marawi spokesman, said the snipers of the Maute group are hiding in mosques and the bombs are also launched from the structures.

However, this does not mean that the government troops are losing the battle.

Brawner said they still intend to preserve the mosques. — BAP, GMA News