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Maute using children, women as human shields: official

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<h2>Marawi men forced to help terrorists </h2><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/06/01/marawi-rtr-060117.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Government soldiers reach for children being carried down from a truck after they were rescued from their homes, as government troops continue their assault on insurgents from the so-called Maute group, Wednesday. <cite>Romeo Ranoco, Reuters </cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Maute fighters and other bandits in Marawi City are using civilians as human shields as government forces gain ground in the campaign to drive them out of the city, a military spokesperson said Thursday. </p><p>&quot;The local terrorist group is using children and women as enemy shield or as human shield,&quot; regional military spokesman Lt. Col. Joar Herrera said in a press briefing. </p><p>He said the extremists have also forced male civilians to help them with logistics, food, and medical support. </p><p>&quot;The enemy or the local terrorist group is using madrasas (college for Islamic instruction) as staging areas and using mosques as snipers&#x27; nest,&quot; he added. </p><p>The extremists laid siege to Marawi last May 23, driving most of the city&#x27;s 200,00 residents to flee while President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of emergency in Mindanao. </p><p>About 2,000 civilians however failed to escape the war zones. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1452869" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>The Maute&#x27;s use of human shields has impeded the movement of troops as it forced the Armed Forces of the Philippines to repeatedly revise its strategy in a bid to protect non-combatants, according to Herrera. </p><p>&quot;Our primordial concern is the protection and safety of civilians,&quot; the official said.</p><p>The AFP has put priority in rescuing civilians and assisting in the local government&#x27;s relief operations, while also sustaining airstrikes and close-range combat against the extremists. </p><p>Herrera said security forces are also validating reports that Maute has recruited the inmates they broke of the Marawi city jail.</p><p>The fighting has left dead 164 individuals, including 120 extremists, 25 troops and 19 civilians. </p>

<p>Maute fighters and other bandits in Marawi City are using civilians as human shields as government forces gain ground in the campaign to drive them out of the city, a military spokesperson said Thursday. </p>

Maute fighters and other bandits in Marawi City are using civilians as human shields as government forces gain ground in the campaign to drive them out of the city, a military spokesperson said Thursday.