MANILA, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine forces have rescued 17 hostages held by pro-IS militants that laid siege to the southern Philippine city of Marawi, the Philippine defense chief said on Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the rescued hostages include nine males and eight females from 18 to 75 years old.
Lorenzana withheld details of the rescue operation, saying efforts continue to rescue the remaining hostages.
"The details (are) confidential because of efforts to rescue the remaining hostages are still ongoing," he told defense reporters in a text message.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) public affairs office, said the rescued hostages are now undergoing medical checkups.
Arevalo also refused to give details of the operation.
However, he said that the hostages were rescued "probably during the wee hours or early" Wednesday.
"They might just do drastic actions against the remaining hostages."
Arevalo also said the extremists are still holding 26 hostages.
Last month, Philippine security forces also rescued a priest held captive by Islamist extremists.
The Marawi conflict, which broke out in May, has been raging for 134 days or more than four months already. The government security forces continue to battle with some 40 remaining terrorists still holed up in some parts of the city.
