Some Maute hostages in Marawi contacted families —military

Some civilians being held captive by the Maute group in Marawi City have contacted their families, a military official said Sunday.

A radio dzBB report quoting Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Ranao, said the latest development increased the military's confidence that more civilians will be rescued as troops continue to push into the center of the battle zone.

Meanwhile, Brawner also said that more members of the Maute group have sent surrender feelers.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez Jr. said last week that three Maute group members have surrendered and currently under the military's custody.

Galvez, however, declined to divulge the identities of the local terrorists who are undergoing interrogation.

The deadline promised by ground commanders in Marawi City to end the conflict by September 30 has lapsed.

Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana had said in an ambush interview at the House of Representatives last Wednesday that ground commanders were confident that the crisis will end by September 30.

"Ang sabi naman ng ating mga commander sa ground ay tatapusin na yan bago matapos ang buwan, so they have three days to do the job. So I am holding them responsible for fulfilling their promise," Lorenzana told reporters.

President Rodrigo Duterte had also said that he was hoping the armed conflict in Marawi City that has displaced thousands of its residents will end last month.

However, gunfights continued on Sunday, October 1.

A total of 951 people, including 749 Maute members and 155 soldiers and policemen, have been killed in the ongoing conflict.

Forty-seven civilians have also died while 1,733 more have been rescued. —report from Benjie Liwanag/Marlly Rome Bondoc/ALG, GMA News