MARAWI CITY – Police on Saturday seized drug paraphernalia believed to belong to terrorists at a mosque here amid continuing offensives and clearing operations to end the long-drawn conflict.

The mosque in Barangay Lilod was used as a safe haven and sniper lookout by terrorists, said Chief Insp. William Santos of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Unit in Mindanao.

Authorities, however, did not find illegal drugs among the items seized.

Drug paraphernalia were recovered by PNP-DEU at a damaged mosque inside the warzone in Brgy. Lilod, Marawi City | via @rongagalac pic.twitter.com/I4dBIJ1gBe

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) August 5, 2017

Pictures shared by authorities with the media showed a hole in the mosque's walls where Maute snipers allegedly positioned themselves to shoot advancing government troops. Pictures also showed the mosque riddled with bullet holes.

Aside from drug paraphernalia, police also found an identification card and belongings of a man ranked Police Officer 1, who authorities suspect had joined the Maute forces.

Santos said the PO1 was an officer from Rizal who had gone absent without leave (AWOL). They have yet to verify if he was recruited by PO2 Jessy Original, who was jailed for supposed involvement in last September's night market bombing in Davao City.

"Nakuhanan siya ng picture sa area na kasama ng mga Maute. Allegedly tinamaan sya, sa mga gamit niya may dugo,” said Santos.

In the house of a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officer in Barangay Disomangcop, the PNP also recovered a scale, which they suspect was used to weigh illegal drugs. Police are still investigating the matter.

"As a jail official, baka siya ang nagsusuplay ng drugs sa inmates," Santos said.

In Lanao Lake, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continues to foil any attempts of the Maute group to escape as more teams from their special anti-terrorist operations unit have been placed on duty to put up a blockade.

"Mayroong dalawang team na nagbabantay sa exit at mga papasok para maiwasan kung magre-replenish sila ng ammunition. Naka-blockade na ang coast guard na andun ngayon," said Capt. Leo Panopio of the PCG District for Northern Mindanao.

During his visit on Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte told government troops in Marawi that the war is almost over and asked them for a little more sacrifice to end the crisis.

• Marawi offensives confined to a square kilometer: military

The President entered the main battle area late afternoon Friday and visited soldiers and policemen stationed in Camp Kilala here. He arrived 30 minutes past 4 p.m. bringing with him shockproof watches and goods for the soldiers.

"Malapit na itong matapos, konting tiis na lang. Just make sure na buhay kayo 'pag natapos itong gyera na ito," he told around 300 soldiers and policemen who witnessed his visit.

Early Saturday, the PCG also distributed thousands of relief goods to evacuees from Marawi who have been staying in shelters in Iligan City and Balo-i town Lanao del Norte.

"Mga food packs, hygiene materials, medical and dental [supplies], child psychologist, nagkaroon din ng dental education, marami kasing bata na may sakit sa ipin," PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo said.

Balilo said he would recommend to the Department of Transportation, the PCG's mother agency, to bring in skilled personnel to Marawi to help in rehabilitating the battered city.

"Plano namin dalhin sa rehabilitation ang mga DOTR personnel na marunong sa masonry, electrical, at carpentry para makatulong" Balilo said.

Firefights between government forces and Islamic State-linked terrorists have been going on for more than two months, leaving more than 600 dead and forcing roughly 400,000 residents out of Marawi and nearby areas.