PHILIPPINE ARMY CONTROLS 90% OF MARAWI. FIGHTING WITH ISIS ONGOING

A vehicle of the Philippine Army

The Philippine government announced on Friday that the Philippine Army is now in control of 90% of Marawi City.

The Philippine Army added that some ISIS fighters who took over the southern Philippine city of Marawi last month may have been hiding among civilians who were evacuated from the city in order to escape the fighting that continue for the fourth week in a row.

Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said that security measures have been tightened in the cities of Elijan and Cagayan de Oro and the authorities are looking for any suspicious figures who may be trying to “spread confusion and fear”. The general added “We’re not denying that there’s probably a few who may have slipped along with the evacuees from Marawi going to Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.”

According to the Philippine Army, at least 200 local ISIS fighters pluse foreign fighters remain inside Marawi as the Philippine army is working to exterminate them as soon as possible.

It was also announced on Friday that the defense ministers of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia will meet in Borneo Island in Indonesia next Monday to discuss the current threats and step up to cooperation against terrorism.

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