AT LEAST a hundred people have been killed as of Monday due to the continuous fire fight between the government troops and members of the Maute rebels in Marawi City in Lanao Del Sur, a military official said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of the Public Affairs Office (PAO) Colonel Edgar Arevalo said of the 100, 61 were rebels, 20 were from the government side, and 19 were civilians, including a child.

"Karamihan po, binabaril, tadtad ng bala ang katawan. Mayroon po tayong mga nakikita sa mga larawan na karimarimarim, kalunos-lunos po ang kanilang itsura," he said.

However, Arevalo said they are more focused in rescuing the civilians trapped in areas not yet cleared by the government troops, rather than in recovering the remains of the casualties.

On May 23, joint military operations were conducted in Marawi City reportedly due to the presence of Maute’s top leader Isnilon Hapilon.

The operation however resulted in a gun fight between the government troops and the bandits.

Since the beginning of the crisis in the said city, the military have rescued and assisted over 124 civilians trapped in their residences.

The AFP earlier said that it will continue conducting airstrikes to "finish" the rebel forces who already occupied several establishments in the area, with snipers in position, making it harder for the troops to penetrate.

Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra said the government troops are yet to give clearance to the rescuers and relief operators to bring supplies to the trapped civilians due to the ongoing situation.

“Doon po kami nahihirapan dito sa mga uncleared areas kung paano namin pasukin at i-rescue ang mga naipit doon,” he said.

“Medyo hindi po maganda ang aming kalagayan ngayon dahil sa nangyaring tension between government troops and these so-called ISIS-inspired group or Maute group,” Gandamra added.

Gandamra urged the trapped residents to escape when they can. (SunStar Philippines)