ISIS-linked terrorists have murdered 19 civilians in the Philippines including a woman and a child.
This week 85 people have died in street-to-street battles between the Philippine army and terrorists in the southern third of the country.
Officials said the 19 civilians were murdered by the terror group in the mostly Muslim city of Marawi, which has a 200,000 population.
Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera said: ‘These are civilians, women. These terrorists are anti-people. We found their bodies while conducting rescue operations (on Saturday).
An AFP photographer saw another eight bodies by a road in the outskirts of Marawi on Sunday, with local residents identifying them as employees of a rice mill and a medical college.
Herrera said the military had yet to investigate the reported deaths.
The violence began when dozens of gunmen went on a rampage throughout Marawi after security forces attempted to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, a veteran Filipino militant regarded as the local leader of ISIS.
The gunmen planted black ISIS flags, took a priest and up to 14 other people hostage from a church, and set fire to buildings.
Thirteen soldiers, two policemen and 51 militants have died in the fighting, according to authorities. This brings the combined official death toll to at least 85.
Most of the city’s residents have fled because of the fighting, which has seen the military heavily bomb residential areas where the militants were believed to be hiding.
The military announced on Saturday, the start of the Holy month of Ramadan, that it would intensify the bombing campaign.
Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said: ‘In as much as we would like to avoid collateral damage, these rebels are forcing the hand of government by hiding and holding out inside private homes, government buildings and other facilities.’
‘Their refusal to surrender is holding the city captive. Hence, it is now increasingly becoming necessary to use more surgical airstrikes to clear the city and to bring this rebellion to a quicker end.’
Filipino president Roger Duterte and military chiefs have said most of the militants belong to the local Maute group, which they estimate has about 260 armed followers and has declared allegiance to ISIS.
But Duterte has said local criminals are backing the Maute in Marawi.
Government spokesman Zia Alonto Adiong said 2,000 people have been trapped by the terrorists.
‘They have been sending us text messages, calling our hotline, requesting us to send rescue teams but we cannot simply go to areas which are inaccessible to us.
‘They want to leave. They are afraid for their safety. Some are running out of food to eat. They fear they will be hit by bullets, by airstrikes.’
The military announced on Saturday, the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, that it would step up the bombing.
After murdering eight people who were hog-tied, ISIS threw their dead bodies off a bridge.
ISIS launched their most recent attacks after Filipino authorities arrested the leader of the terror group in the country Isnilon Hapilon who had a $5 million bounty on his head.
Duterte said Saturday he was prepared to enforce martial law for as long as was necessary to end the terrorist threat, and even ignore constitutionally mandated safeguards such as Supreme Court and congressional oversight.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.