MANILA — A high-level Islamic State operative who funneled money and foreign fighters to the Philippines, helping militants seize territory there, was “taken” during a gunfight on Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte announced.

The operative, Mahmud Ahmad, 39, a Malaysian former university lecturer, helped finance the siege of the southern city of Marawi, which jihadists stormed in May, killing scores of peoples and sending thousands of residents fleeing. After a fierce battle to retake the city, Mr. Duterte on Tuesday declared Marawi liberated.

Mr. Duterte said on Thursday that Mr. Ahmad had been “taken,” but did not specify whether that meant he had been captured or killed.

Hours earlier, the head of the armed forces, Gen. Eduardo Año, said Mr. Ahmad was among 13 militants who died in gun battles that raged late Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Six soldiers were wounded in the fighting, General Año said. A mother and her teenage daughter who had been taken hostage were rescued, he said.