As the battle in Marawi City enters its fifth week, there is no apparent sign that the armed conflict will end soon. Militants have warned that unless the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) intervene to end the conflict, they will continue the fight.
The MILF is the largest revolutionary organisation in the Philippine with approximately 10,000 armed fighters who struck a peace deal with the Philippine government in 2014. Members of the MILF are presently helping the government securing the peace corridor adjacent to the conflict zone so that the victims of war can be treated for humanitarian purposes.
The peace corridor was organised so that relief goods and humanitarian assistance can be delivered to innocent victims.
Despite reports that the Maute group is losing ground due to leadership, the militants told the Philippine government that it was willing to release its hostage Catholic Priest Chito Suganob in exchange for the freedom of the Maute's patriarch, matriarch and other relatives. The Maute parents are now under the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as rebellion charges are being prepared against them.
A negotiation to end the armed conflict was at place this week when an emissary was sent on Sunday to discuss with Maute leader Abdullah Maute to end the conflict. After their conversation, the emissary said that the Maute militant group was not willing to surrender unless the MILF intervenes.
On the other hand, the MILF said that it was willing to intervene to end the armed conflict but it has to consult with the Philippine government for the latter's approval.
While there were reports that the Maute militant group are weakening in their positions, no Maute militants has surrendered to security authorities as of yet and they continue to fight back the Philippine security forces.
While more than 300 soldiers and armed militants already have been killed since the war broke in May 23, at least 200,000 residents have been displaced by the war.
