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Marawi death toll rises as govt grapples with terrorist rumors

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/05/25/052517_marawi1.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Residents fleeing from Marawi, where gunmen rampaged through the southern city, walk past a checkpoint at the entrance to Iligan Wednesday. <cite>Ted Aljibe, AFP</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Gun battles between the government and extremist groups in Marawi City have left at least 7 people dead, the military confirmed Thursday, as it scrambled to verify reports of a terrorist-led jailbreak and the alleged massacre and abduction of civilians.</p><p>Among the fatalities were 5 soldiers and 2 policemen, who sought to flush out Maute and Abu Sayyaf bandits that torched and occupied several vital installations on Tuesday. Twenty-one state troops meanwhile were wounded, ABS-CBN&#x27;s Chiara Zambrano reported.</p><p>Thirteen extremists meanwhile were killed in the skirmishes.</p><p>Authorities however have yet to confirm the number of slain civilians amid social media reports that the extremists allegedly singled out and killed several residents.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C15KLJcCUBw" width="560"></iframe></figure><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Col. Edgar Arevalo said the military recovered the bodies of a police chief inspector, an ambulance driver, and a Maute bandit at the Amai Pakpak Medical Hospital (AMPH) on Wednesday.</p><p>Seventy-eight hospital workers and construction workers were rescued there, Arevalo said.</p><p>The AMPH was previously held by Maute and Abu Sayyaf, along with the Mindanao State University and the city hall, Arevalo said.</p><p>The official said they were still validating a report that terrorists <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/24/17/terrorists-hold-priest-civilians-hostage-church-officials-say"><strong>snatched off</strong></a> a parish priest and about a dozen parishioners from St. Mary&#x27;s Cathedral.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/24/17/i-called-my-wife-a-terrorist-answered">&#x27;I called my wife, a terrorist answered&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>Intelligence units, he added, were also seeking confirmation on reports that the terrorists on Tuesday freed about a hundred inmates from the city jail.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DwdWpj5lqrM" width="560"></iframe></figure><p>Arevalo said rebel forces are still scattered throughout the city.</p><p>&quot;May mga snipers pa sila na nasa tuktok ng structures natin diyan na na-o-occupy nila. Nag-lay rin po sila ng improvised explosive devices,&quot; he said.</p><p>The military has sent reinforcements to Marawi, but their arrival has been delayed as residents left the city in droves and choked up roads and checkpoints, Arevalo said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/05/25/052517_marawi2.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">A government troop stands on guard checking vehicles evacuating residents from their hometown of Marawi city in southern Philippines, as it drives past a military checkpoint in Pantar town, Lanao Del Norte, Wednesday. <cite>Romeo Ranoco, Reuters</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Fifty-percent of reinforcements have entered the city as of Wednesday afternoon. Arevalo said their deployment is expected to be completed early Thursday.</p>

<p>Gun battles between the government and extremist groups in Marawi City have left at least 7 people dead, the military confirmed Thursday as it scrambled to verify reports of a terrorist-led jailbreak and the alleged massacre and abduction of civilians.</p>

Gun battles between the government and extremist groups in Marawi City have left at least 7 people dead, the military confirmed Thursday as it scrambled to verify reports of a terrorist-led jailbreak and the alleged massacre and abduction of civilians.