Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Tampus of the First Infantry Battalion says, soldiers have observed that the Maute terrorists would force their hostages to wear black suits so that government forces would mistake them for terrorists.
This is published unedited from the PTI feed. Asked earlier if they would be freed, Mama said: "Yes".
Police Chief Inspector Realan Mamon tells The Associated Press by telephone that an unspecified number of gunmen belonging to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters raided the village of Malagakit in North Cotabato province at dawn Wednesday and engaged government forces in a firefight.
"It's already resolved", Brigadier General Restituto Padilla told reporters.
Cpt Encinas said initial reports indicate that the militants, whom the Philippine military considers terrorists, grabbed five civilians and used them as human shields as they withdrew.
Tampus said the militant snipers were firing from "strategic nests" in schools and mosques, and their bombs were hampering his troops' operations.
Philippine troops evict Muslim rebel raiders from village
Padilla then confirmed militants had taken over the school, and said the military would seek to broker a solution. Pigkawayan town mayor Eliseo Garsesa said about 200 gunmen were involved.
"If this is a diversionary move, it's not the first by these BIFF gunmen", Padilla said. Military officials were initially not certain if any hostages were taken and whether they included children.
An Israeli newspaper says the government is preparing to authorize construction of 7,000 new homes in Jewish areas of east Jerusalem _ a move that could complicate the efforts of US envoy Jared Kushner to restart peace talks.
Duterte said the Maute militants, who have pledged allegiance to the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ( ISIS) left him no choice but to impose military rule.
Ano, citing intelligence shared by foreign counterparts, said Mahmud was suspected of channeling more than 30 million pesos ($600,000) from the Islamic State group to acquire firearms, food and other supplies for the attack.
Pigcawayan lies south of Marawi City, where Islamist militants have been battling government forces for about a month. Philippine troops, backed by airstrikes and artillery, remain involved in the offensive to wrest back control of villages and the business district. President Rodrigo Duterte, despite having an antagonistic stance toward Washington, has acknowledged the USA assistance is helping save lives.
President Duterte declared martial law across Mindanao on May 23 immediately after fighters flying the IS flag rampaged through Marawi.
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