Military prepares attack on Maute stronghold, Bato Mosque

Government troops are preparing to attack the Bato Mosque that the ISIS-inspired Maute group has been using as a hideout and where they keep about 300 hostages.

Constant gunfire and bomb explosions lit up the surrounding area, as shown on footage aired on the report of GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo's for "24 Oras."

The video shows that most of the buildings were destroyed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Despite the heavy shelling in the area, a mosque remains intact, the report said.

The Bato Mosque is not among the targets of the government troops because of the respect they have for Islam.

With this, the government is laying out a plan and formulating their strategy so they can finally take full control of Marawi City.

All the areas designated as exit points are now under heavy guard.

The terrorists have about 300 hostages, including Fr. Chito Sunganob and teachers of Dansalan College.

"Gusto po natin ma-preserve ang buhay ng mga hostages. Yung mga hostages ginagamit ng mga Maute terrorist group na mga trabahador nila," said Col. Brawner, Joint Task Force Marawi deputy commander.

"So inuutusan nilang mag-luto or maghukay ng mga trenches. Sila rin yung mga ginagawang runners," he added.

As of August 29, the number of Maute group members killed has reached 617 while there are 133 deaths among government troops.

Among civilians, there are 46 deaths reported.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his disapproval of the plan to bomb a certain mosque in fear that the terrorists would kill the hostages.

"The one thing that’s stopping us now is ‘yung sa mosque, it’s a big one, it has underground tunnels but not so much about that. But may 300 na hostages sila,” he said.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año also assured Muslims that the AFP would not go down to the level of the terrorists who “desecrate places of worship to lure government security forces into responding to their violent activities in a similar manner.” — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News