"In addition to observing a Day of Silence and Prayer for our heroes and the innocents who died due to terrorist atrocities in Marawi, we also had a nationwide tribute in cooperation with all the major networks in TV and radio to all the fallen", said Restituto. The death toll has topped 150, according to the military.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday he did not seek support from Washington to end the siege of a southern Philippines city by the so-called Maute group.
The plot to take over more cities, however, was foiled when government troops launched a preemptive raid on Marawi to capture Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the Abu Sayyaf group and the Islamic State's "emir" of Southeast Asia, Cayetano said.
But since the border areas with the Philippines are traditional trading routes, escaping militants may attempt to cross over to Indonesia with the help of rogue merchants.
A United States official, who requested anonymity, confirmed to Philippine media that the support they are providing to soldiers to suppress terrorism is in form of aerial surveillance and they are providing electronic eavesdropping and communications assistance.
The brothers' father, Cayamora Maute, was apprehended Tuesday morning at a military checkpoint in Sirawan, Davao City, ABS-CBN reports.
"The fight against terrorism, however, is not only the concern of the Philippines or the United States but it is a concern of many nations around the world", he said.
Cayetano said the government did not need to be involved in decisions on U.S. participation because of a bilateral visiting forces agreement and, with "events happening real time", such matters are left to the armed forces and defence department.
Asked when the fighting would end, Padilla said: "I can't give you an estimate because of compounding developments faced by ground commanders".
UK fears the Gulf's Qatar blockade is hurting its people
Qatar has therefore turned to its real allies who share its political creed, such as Turkey and Iran, he told Asharq Al-Awsat. Soldiers in an armored pick-up truck looked out over barbed-wire at sprawling dustland separating Qatar from Saudi Arabia .
It is feared that there are still between 500 and 1,000 civilians trapped or being held hostage by the terrorists.
"Other than that, they will leave and go back to their usual assistance that we have now ongoing in the area of ZambaSulTa", he added, referring to the area of Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
An Associated Press journalist and photographer saw a U.S. Navy P3 Orion plane hovering in cloudy skies above Marawi on Friday.
Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao after Islamist fighters allied with Daesh seized the town of Marawi.
The embassy told CNN it would not provide further details about the US support due to "security reasons," but added USA special operations forces have provided assistance in response to Philippine military requests for years.
Duterte said under martial law he has authority over the defence department.
He did not say the armed forces had gone over his head but noted that, because of years of training from the United States, "our soldiers are pro-American, that I can not deny".
The Maute joined forces with Isnilon Hapilon, who was previous year proclaimed by Daesh as its Southeast Asia "emir".
While the flag-raising was mainly to mark Independence Day, it also symbolized the reclaiming of city hall and other areas of Marawi by government forces.
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