MANILA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Philippine government forces continue to fight with the Maute Group in a southern philippine province and the number of slain Maute Group members rose to 40 Tuesday, or 21 higher than Monday's figure.
In an interview in Camp Aguinaldo, Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the sporadic fighting have been continuing Tuesday around the old and abandoned townhall of Butig, Lanao del Sur province, which the Maute group occupied last Saturday.
He said the number of wounded soldiers also increased to 20, from 13 the previous day.
"Up to now, they (soldiers) have yet to occupy the specific portion where the members of the Maute Group are in but the operations are ongoing," said Arevalo when asked if government have already retaken the building.
Arevalo said soldiers are proceeding with the mission with caution because of the presence of enemy snipers and improvised explosive devices that were possibly planted by the armed group.
The military earlier said that there are also skirmishes in other areas in Butig. Officials said the Maute Group occupied the building in response to ongoing operations against the group in the province.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said there seems to be a link already between the Maute Group with the Islamic State.
"They are talking but there is no formal connection. The Maute Group is attempting to be included in the worldwide organization of IS." said Lorenzana.
Lorenzana also said that they have yet to monitor any logistical support provided by the IS to the Maute Group, which , along with the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, has pledged allegiance to the IS a couple of years ago.
