59 men accused of links to Marawi siege ordered freed 

Prosecutors have dismissed rebellion complaints against 59 men who were stopped by police and Army troops at two checkpoints in the south and accused of attempting to join Islamic State-linked militants who laid siege to a southern city.

Senior government prosecutor Peter Ong said Friday that the rebellion complaints filed by the military against the Muslim men were dismissed because of a lack of strong evidence, and the men were ordered released.

The men were taken into custody in southern Zamboanga city and Ipil town on July 25 while traveling in groups amid intelligence reports that Muslim militants would attempt to reinforce gunmen who attacked Marawi city and were being pummeled by military airstrikes and ground assaults.