MANILA - (3rd UPDATE) Seven members of the Presidential Security Group and three soldiers were wounded in an ambush in Marawi, Lanao del Sur Tuesday, a day ahead of President Rodrigo's scheduled visit in the province.

The victims were part of a 50-member team from the PSG, Army and state-run Radio-TV Malacañang that was supposed to iron out the presidential visit.

They were on their way to the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade headquarters when an improvised explosive device (IED) hit their convoy in Barangay Matampay at 10:30 a.m. Unidentified suspects then opened fire on their party.

A PSG member was severely wounded while eight others sustained slight injuries, the Presidential Communications Office and Army spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said.

A presidential chopper airlifted the seriously injured and four others for emergency care.

Wounded PSG personnel arrive at Camp Evangelista in CDO. They were airlifted after an ambush in Marawi City. (Photo: 4th ID Phil. Army) pic.twitter.com/BoPuM438J3

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) November 29, 2016

Duterte earlier announced that he will go to Lanao del Sur to show support for state troops currently battling Maute terrorists in the neighboring town of Butig.

The 103rd Brigade said the terrorists may have used the ambush as a diversionary tactic.

But Padilla said the suspects may not have known that the unmarked convoy they ambushed belongs to the government.

The attack, he said, may have been laid to intimidate civilians and block reinforcements from reaching Marawi.

The Department of National Defense (DND) echoed Padilla's belief.

"Ang balita namin hindi naman ambush kundi na... naputukan lang yung side, yung IED, improvised explosive device, sa roadside ano no, itinanim nila. Siguro yung target ng Maute, yung mga tropang nag-reinforce," said DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

President Duterte said he will push through with his visit to Marawi.

"The advice is to postpone... I will go there and if possible, take the same route. Maybe we can have a little gunfight here, gunfight there. Exercise baka," he said.

How the Maute group recaptured Butig https://t.co/1EEgOBy3Ux pic.twitter.com/Y4YsHd986n

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) November 29, 2016