AFP recaptures old Butig municipal hall, clearing of Maute Group bandits now at 80 percent

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 30): AFP recaptures old Butig municipal hall, clearing of Maute Group bandits now at 80 percent

Military troops have successfully retaken the old Butig municipal hall from the clutches of the Maute Group around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said that operations are still ongoing to recover the portion of Butig town being held by the enemy.

"We have successfully retaken the (old Butig municipal hall) so far, if we are going to talk about the 100 completion of the task in fully retaking and recovering that portion of Butig they are occupying, we are still at 80 percent," he added.

Military units are now clearing the building of improvised explosive device left behind by the bandits.

Troops are now clearing these battlefield hazards, Arevalo stressed.

The terrorists opted to withdraw from their positions in the old Butig municipal hall amid overwhelming military superiority.

The bandits have retreated to their fallback positions in deserted areas of the town where military troops are now engaged in flushing them out.

As of this posting, 61 Maute Group members were killed while 35 government troops were wounded in action in the now five-day operation.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=944574