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[av_heading heading=’Has Abu Sayyaf leader Hapilon left Marawi?’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Saturday, June 10, 2017
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MANILA – Has Abu Sayyaf leader – and allegedly the ISIS emir in Southeast Asia – Isnilon Hapilon, escaped from the military dragnet in Marawi City where operations are ongoing to eliminate the remaining Maute group terrorists?
Ranking defense and military officials said yesterday they were checking the reports.
“We are still verifying (this report),” Department of National Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana said when asked on the matter.
The same stance was shared by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla.
“This is not confirmed. Major General (Rolando) Bautista mentioned he (Hapilon) is still inside (Marawi),” he added.
Padilla added that operations are now underway to locate the terrorist leader as of this writing.
Earlier reports claimed Hapilon managed to elude military forces out to neutralize him and his fellow terrorists in Marawi City.
Fighting in the city started on May 23 when military forces attempted to arrest the terrorist leader.
In the almost three weeks of fighting, 138 lawless elements were killed along with 39 government troops and police officers.
Also killed were 20 unarmed civilians.
The AFP, meanwhile, announced it already compiled two lists containing the names of more than 200 supporters of the Maute group.
The lists included local politicians, said AFP chief-of-staff General Eduardo Año.
“I cannot recall the number but I think it’s about more than 200 names. (There are names of incumbent local) politicians, (private citizens and Maute Group members) there,” he added.
These individuals will be arrested.
The military official said the lists also included the owner of the house in Marawi City where P52.2 million in cash and P27 million in checks were recovered on June 5.
“We have already identified the owner of the house but I would rather not reveal the identity. Investigations (are ongoing) to identify supporters,” said Año. (PNA)
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