The government is currently seeking to evacuate 11 Indonesians from the besieged Marawi City on the southern island of Mindanao, the Philippines, Head of National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Police Setyo Wasisto stated here, Monday.

"We are trying to repatriate them to Indonesia," Wasisto remarked at the National Police Office in Jakarta. 

Following intense clashes earlier, the 11 Indonesian citizens are currently reported to be in a good condition, he noted.

According to the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City and the countrys police attache to the Philippines, the 11 Indonesian citizens are in the Philippines to spread the teachings of Islam.

"We confirmed that they are not affiliated to the IS-linked insurgents, Wasisto remarked.

On a separate occasion, Immigration Office spokesperson Agung Sampurno stated that 11 Indonesian citizens had earlier informed the local authority about their activities at the citys AbuBakr As-Siddiq Mosque in the Barangay Basak Malutlut Village. 

When the clash erupted, the local security personnel had evacuated them to another mosque near a police office, Sampurno stated while adding that they have been outside the city and under the protection of the local security. 

"The Immigration Office and Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) have urged them to return to Indonesia, but they are still contemplating on the suggestion," Sampurno said. 

Since last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared an emergency status in the countrys second-largest island, Mindanao in a bid to halt the movements of insurgents. 

The clash began when the Philippine police and military troops were attempting to capture the militant Abu Sayyaf groups leader, Isnilon Hapnilon. However, before detaining Hapnilon, another militant group linked to IS, Maute raided the city. 

Earlier on Thursday, the military had claimed that around 31 terrorists had died during the clash. 

"As of this report, 31 terrorists were already neutralized, and six high-power firearms were recovered by the troops," Brig. Gen. Rolly Bautista, the Philippine joint task forces head, said as quoted from the locals newspaper Manila Bulletin. 

"Our troops are conducting deliberate operations in areas we believe are still occupied or infested with terrorists. I specifically ordered our soldiers to locate and destroy these terrorists as soon as possible," he added.(*)

Source: ANTARA