17 bodies found in Philippine city under rebel attack

MANILA - 28 June 2017: Philippine troops have retrieved 17 bodies believed to be of villagers killed by Daesh group that seized parts of southern Marawi city last month.

Government spokesman Zia Alonto Adiong said that troops and rescuers found the bodies huddled in a grassy lot in the Marawi village of Gadungan, which troops have cleared of militants, ABC News reported on Wednesday.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Padilla says authorities will try to identify the bodies before they're added to the civilian death toll, currently at 27.

At least 299 militants and 71 soldiers and police have also died in the fighting that began when militant laid siege to Marawi on May 23.