Authorities recover P79 million in cash and checks in in beseige town of Marawi Philippines

Story By CNN Philippines

Marawi City (CNN Philippines, June 6) — Government forces recovered almost ₱80 million in cash and checks after flushing out Maute fighters in a house in Marawi City on Monday.

In a media briefing on Tuesday, the spokesperson of Task Force Marawi and Marine officers said ₱52.2 million in cash and P27 million-worth of stale checks were found inside a vault during a house-to-house clearing operation near Mapandi bridge.

Task Force Marawi spokesperson Jo-Ar Herrera said an M-16 rifle and several firearms were also recovered after government forces took over what they called a "machine gun nest."

Herrera said they requested for an investigation on the cash and checks, and as to who owns the house, which he described as "well-built."

Marine Major Rowan Rimas said it is possible the house is owned by a Maute member.

"It was under the control of the Maute group because prior to the assault of the troops, there is a gun mount in that area. And our troops were being fired upon," he said.

He said the recovered cash and checks, including some indicating "pay to cash," show the Maute group is on the run.

"The Maute group, they have defensive positions. They have a very capable group. But the recovery of those millions of cash indicate that they are running, because the government troops are pressing in," he said.

Rimas added, "If a civilian owns that money, dadalhin na niya yun, hindi niya iiwan yun. Ibig sabihin yung pera na yun, sa Maute."

Herrera said based on the location where the machine gun nest was found, "it can be explained very clearly that position was in control of the Maute."

The money and checks were turned over to the Joint Task Force Marawi for safekeeping.

Government troops have been fightng Maute members in Marawi since May 23. The terrorists resisted an arrest order for Isnilon Hapilon, whom ISIS recognizes as its leader in the country. He is believed to be still in the area.

Hapilon is allegedly working with the Maute group to establish a "wilayat," or caliphate of ISIS in Lanao del Sur.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus over the entire Mindanao island region on May 23 in response to the violence in Marawi.