Gov’t troops retake 80 percent of Butig from Maute group

Soldiers from the 103rd Brigade of the Philippine Army in hot pursuit of the Maute criminal group in Butig town in Lanao del Sur in June 2016. (File Photo by : Richel V. Umel, Inquirer Mindanao)

Government troops have recovered about 80 percent of the area occupied by the Maute terrorist group in Butig, Lanao del Sur since Saturday, the military said on Wednesday.

“If we are talking of the entire completion of the task in fully retaking and recovering that portion of Butig that they have occupied, we are now at 80 percent,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.

He added that while the rebels have retreated and there are no longer firefights going on, there are still improvised explosive devices to watch out for.

“We still need to do clearing operations,” Arevalo said.

READ: Troops fight to retake Lanao Sur town from terrorists

Soldiers have also retaken the old municipal hall of Butig, where the Philippine flag was replaced by the Islamic State flag by the rebels. They have also recovered a madrasah (educational institution) and a national high school.

As of posting time, operations still continue. The number of wounded soldiers has increased to 35. The military cites that 61 have been killed from the Maute terror group, while the wounded rebels were at 12. JE

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