MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed Wednesday that 17 more hostages have been rescued by military troops engaged in clearing operations in Marawi City.
"Yes, it is true that 17 more hostages were rescued in Marawi: 9 males and 8 females, ages ranging from 18-75," he said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The defense chief declined to give other details on the matter for safety and security reasons.
"Details of the rescue are confidential because efforts to rescue the remaining hostages are still ongoing," Lorenzana added.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo, confirmed the information from the DND chief but declined to give further details for the same reason.
He said the hostages were rescued during the "wee hours of the morning" and that they are undergoing medical examination after they were saved by troops of Task Force Ranao.
This development brings down the number of hostages held captive by the Maute Group terrorists to 26. (PNA)
