Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News

<p>BUTIG, Lanao del Sur - Military forces have flushed out members of the Maute group and have regained control of this town, but scars of the <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/30/16/ph-military-ends-5-day-siege-against-maute-group">six-day firefight</a> remain visible as homes and establishments were left with gaping holes from tank and gunfire.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dispatch from Butig. Walking through the damaged streets of the town center, surrounded by the sight and smell of a battle in its aftermath. <a href="https://t.co/xJtHj7Rwcm">pic.twitter.com/xJtHj7Rwcm</a></p>— Chiara Zambrano (@chiarazambrano) <a href="https://twitter.com/chiarazambrano/status/804465708604092416">December 1, 2016</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>&quot;The town is deserted and the Maute is withdrawing towards the mountain,&quot; military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla earlier said.</p><p>&quot;They have been decimated. The capability to sustain and get back to the fight is no longer there,&quot; Padilla added.</p><script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1/jquery.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://img.abs-cbnnews.com/assets/galleria/galleria-1.4.2.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div id="galleria"><a href="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara1.jpg"><img data-description="Photos by Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News" data-title="Butig National High School, used by Maute Group as one of the main defensive positions in the town center. Now also back in military hands." src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara1.jpg"/> </a> <a href="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara2.jpg"><img data-description="Photos by Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News" data-title="Most houses in these parts are made of solid concrete, to protect families in rido or clan wars. Maute Group" s="" structures="" similarly="" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara2.jpg"/> </a> <a href="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara3.jpg"><img data-description="Photos by Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News" data-title="House clearing operations were conducted by the military." src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara3.jpg"/> </a> <a href="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara4.jpg"><img data-description="Photos by Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News" data-title="A single shoe caked in blood, beside a black pair of pants left behind by a Maute Group fighter." src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara4.jpg"/> </a> <a href="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara5.jpg"><img data-description="Photos by Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News" data-title="Butig Mosque, with gaping holes from tank fire." src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara5.jpg"/> </a> <a href="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara6.jpg"><img data-description="Photos by Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News" data-title="A soldier uses a tree branch to quickly probe a window for tripwires. IEDs still found in the town of Butig." src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara6.jpg"/> </a> <a href="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara7.jpg"><img data-description="Photos by Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News" data-title="After 6 days of fighting the Maute Group, soldiers retake the old Butig town hall, raise the Philippine flag and salute it." src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special2/nation/12/02/butig-chiara7.jpg"/> </a></div><script src="https://abscbnnewsml.blob.core.windows.net/themes/default-gallery/themes/themev2/default-engine.js" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Schools and mosques in town were not spared from the skirmish as members of the rebel group holed up in these supposed safe zones, and <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/01/16/maute-fighters-retreat-to-butigs-fringes-plant-booby-traps">planted booby traps</a> in different parts of the town center.</p><p>Though government troops have already regained control of the town, members of the Armed Forces continue to scour the area for improvised explosive devices.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dispatch from Butig. Dec 1, 2016. The town may have been retaken by the military, but the Maute Group scattered improvised explosive devices <a href="https://t.co/e6X2ETMUxo">pic.twitter.com/e6X2ETMUxo</a></p>— Chiara Zambrano (@chiarazambrano) <a href="https://twitter.com/chiarazambrano/status/804452462526504960">December 1, 2016</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>At least 61 terrorists have been killed while 35 soldiers have been injured, the latest report from the Armed Forces said.</p><p>Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman has been urging the national government to <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/02/16/armm-gov-wants-military-stationed-in-butig">station military troops</a> in Butig, Lanao del Sur to prevent Maute Group fighters from coming back.</p><p>&quot;Recommendation namin dapat magkaroon na ng station ang Armed Forces doon mismo sa Butig. Para di na sila makabalik doon,&quot; Hataman said.</p><p>(We have recommended that an Armed Forces station should be established in Butig to prevent the rebels from re-occupying the town.)</p>

<p>BUTIG, Lanao del Sur - Military forces have flushed out members of the Maute group and have regained control of this town, but scars of the six-day firefight remain visible as homes and establishments were left with gaping holes from tank and gunfire.</p>

BUTIG, Lanao del Sur - Military forces have flushed out members of the Maute group and have regained control of this town, but scars of the six-day firefight remain visible as homes and establishments were left with gaping holes from tank and gunfire.

LOOK: Siege vs Maute group leaves Butig devastated | ABS-CBN

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LOOK: Siege vs Maute group leaves Butig devastated

LOOK: Siege vs Maute group leaves Butig devastated

Chiara Zambrano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 02, 2016 10:31 AM PHT

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