Soldiers aboard helicopters and in armored personnel carriers (APCs) battled Islamist militants inside a southern city on Thursday, as reports emerged of the gunmen murdering civilians. ADVERTISEMENTDuterte said on Wednesday one policeman was similarly caught at a checkpoint set up by the militants and beheaded. There are between 50 and 100 gunmen, according to various military officials. The militants are also holding between 12 and 15 Catholic hostages abducted from a church, according to the local bishop, Edwin Dela Pena. The militants raided two jails, leading to the escape of more than 100 inmates, according to Mujiv Hataman, the governor of a Muslim self-rule area that includes Marawi.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 25, 2017 05:11 UTC