MARAWI CITY - The military on Monday secured a warehouse of the National Food Authority here after terrorists attempted to seize rice stocks stored at the facility.

Quelling resistance from sniper fire, government troops secured some 8,000 sacks of rice at the warehouse - supply now deemed critical as the prolonged firefight has triggered a humanitarian emergency, with thousands of families displaced.

The military had found the warehouse gates already open, and that the enemy apparently used an M16 rifle to destroy its locks based on the slug found at the entry.

NFA inspectors said members of the Maute group may have taken an undetermined number of rice sacks. The group also took away a delivery van.

Several gates and doors of the warehouse were also found to have been destroyed by Maute terrorists in an attempt to get more rice from the stock.

Still, much of the rice stock was still intact, and two NFA trucks were found in the garage untouched.

NFA employees hurriedly recovered important computer files and paper documents in their office as the military conducted clearing operations. They also secured remaining vehicles.

Clashes erupted in the city on May 23 as state forces were trying to arrest top Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, considered the Islamic State’s point man in Southeast Asia. At least 175 people have died in the firefights, including 120 terrorists, 36 government troops, and 19 civilians.

• READ: 'DEAD OR ALIVE': Duterte offers P10M to 'neutralize' Hapilon, P5M for Maute Brothers