A total of 13 Filipino marines were killed in fighting with the Maute militant group which controls parts of Marawi City.
"We are saddened by the incident ... there are 13 soldiers killed," Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera said, as reported by Inquirer on June 10, 2017.
Herrera said marine members were on their way to Barangay Mapandi for a cleanup operation. In the middle of the road, they clashed with about 30 armed men of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups on Friday.
The Maute militant group apparently installed an explosive device on the road, fired rocket-propelled grenades and a B-40 projectile.
A military official said that the battle lasted for 14 hours. This armed clash killed 13 marines. The number became the biggest casualty in one day.
Fighting between the Maute and the Philippine military forces in Marawi City has entered its 19th day, since it first broke out on May 23, 2017. The number of soldiers killed reached 58 and wounded are still being recorded.
Air strikes by the Philippine military did not significantly reduce the combat abilities of Maute groups.
Herrera said there were still about 200 to 230 armed men remaining. Including the tops of Maute, such as Isnilon Hapilon ,, Abdullah and Omar Maute.
INQUIRER | MANILA BULLETIN | YON DEMA
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