Earlier, the military said it was checking reports some Maute gunmen had left their weapons behind and joined civilians fleeing the warzone in the early days of the fighting. There were also reports, the military said, that some gunmen had slipped through Marawi’s borders with other areas. Pantao Ragat Vice Mayor Ayran Lantud said they also tightened the town’s security considering that Maute gunmen could find refuge in its hinterlands. Lantud said Pantao Ragat has Piagapo, Lanao del Sur as its common border with Marawi. In Maigo, Lanao del Norte, Mayor Rafael Rizalda said some personalities identified with the Maute group have been reported to be hiding in an interior in Lanao del Norte town.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 23, 2017 14:03 UTC