Philippine military has said that Islamist militants fled from a primary school in the south yesterday, leaving behind 31 hostages unharmed, including 12 children, after a day‑long gunbattle with troops.
There was no word of casualties in the incident, south of Marawi City, where fighting between government troops and pro‑Islamic State militants has entered its fifth week.
Military officials were initially not certain if any hostages were taken and whether they included children.
Source: Reuters
