Philippines vows to save hostages as fight corners militants

The Philippines has vowed to do everything in its power to save the hostages being held by militants in the city of Marawi, as the military continues to fight to retake the city from the extremist group.

The Philippine military has been engaged in a fierce battle with the Maute group, a local terrorist organization affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), since May 23. The group has taken control of several buildings and streets in Marawi, a city of around 200,000 people, and has been using civilians as human shields.

The military has been trying to retake the city, but the militants have been putting up a fierce resistance, using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and snipers to attack government forces.

The Philippine government has vowed to do everything in its power to save the hostages, including negotiating with the militants and using military force to rescue them.

"We will do everything to save the hostages," said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in a statement. "We will not leave anyone behind. We will do everything to rescue them and bring them back to their families."

The military has been working to evacuate civilians from the city and has established a perimeter around the area where the hostages are being held. The military has also been using drones and other technology to gather intelligence on the militants' movements and to target them with precision airstrikes.

The Philippine government has also been working with international partners to try to resolve the crisis. The United States, Australia, and other countries have offered military assistance to the Philippines, and the United Nations has called for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.

The crisis in Marawi has raised concerns about the spread of extremism in the Philippines and the potential for the country to become a haven for IS fighters. The Philippine government has vowed to take all necessary steps to prevent this from happening.

"We will not allow the Philippines to become a haven for terrorists," said Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. "We will do everything in our power to prevent this from happening and to protect our people."

The crisis in Marawi has also raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in the city. Many civilians have been displaced by the fighting, and there are reports of shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.

The Philippine government has established a humanitarian response center to coordinate relief efforts and has appealed for international assistance. The United Nations has also launched an appeal for $10 million to support the humanitarian response.

The crisis in Marawi is a major challenge for the Philippine government, and it will likely take time and effort to resolve. However, the government has vowed to do everything in its power to save the hostages and to bring peace back to the city.