Surrendering Maute Group bandits to be spared

FILE PHOTO: Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday expressed confidence that clashes between government troops and the Maute terrorist group in Marawi City could be over before September ends. (Photo By Department of Defense (Philippines), CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA — With fighting in Marawi City expected to end soon, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday said lives of surrendering Maute Group terrorists will be spared.

He made this statement after Lanao Del Sur 2nd District Rep. Mauyag Papandayan told him that some of the surviving terrorists have expressed their willingness to surrender.

“I told him (Papandayan) no problem, in fact Western Mindanao Command troops are going around with bullhorns daily in Marawi City (urging them to surrender). If they want to surrender, then they must come out with their hands up and our soldiers will not kill them, our troops don’t kill surrendering people,” Lorenzana said in Filipino.

And once these terrorists surrender, the DND chief said it is up to the courts to determine what kind of charges and sanctions to be meted against them.

Earlier, Lorenzana said Maute Group resistance in Marawi City could crumble within three days time after another enclave of the terrorists, the White Mosque, was captured earlier Thursday.

He also estimated the remaining bandits to be around less than 100.

As of this posting, Maute Group terrorists killed in the ongoing fighting are now at 707 while civilians killed and executed by the lawless elements are placed at 47. Slain government troops are at 151 and captured enemy weapons at 698 while rescued civilians are at 1,730.  (PNA)