‘Desperate’ Maute group may send kids to fight in the front line —AFP

The Maute group has become desperate and may send its young recruits to the front lines as troops continue to rid Marawi City of the terrorists, a military spokesman said Saturday.

"Noong araw ay hindi sila napro-front line pero ngayon dahil sa desperadong kondisyon nila maaring ilabas nila ang mga batang ito," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said in an interview on radio dzBB.

AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Año earlier said that the military troops have cornered the Maute group in a 500-square-meter area in the war-torn city.

Año said the terrorists' leaders — Maute brother Abdullah and Omar and Isnilon Hapilon — are believed to be still in the area.

An operation against Hapilon in Marawi City led to the Maute group's siege last May 23, which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Padilla said troops will still attempt to rescue the young Maute group recruits.

"Pero kami po ay susubukan pa rin namin sila i-rescue at makuha... pero yan po ang ating ginagawa sinisikap nating ma-rescue ang mga hostage at maisalba itong mga batang ito," he said.

But if the young Maute group members would take up arms and fire at troops, Padilla said the soldiers will be forced to retaliate and defend themselves.

He said their "hearts are bleeding" whenever troops see young Maute group members taking part in terrorist activities in the city.

"Napakasakit pakinggan, tama po kayo, medyo maramirami ang kanilang hinikayat na mga bata na pumasok at kanilang binrainwash at naging parte ng kanilang grupo... Nakakaawa na isipin na itong mga batang ito sa murang edad ay naging parte sa ganitong napakarumaldumal na krimen," the military spokesman said. —Ted Cordero/ALG, GMA News