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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
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MANILA – Citing DNA test results, the Department of National Defense on Saturday confirmed that Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon was one of those killed in a military operation in Marawi City last Monday.
The United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) performed the test, according to Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
“We have received an official report that the US FBI has confirmed the DNA sample taken from a body recovered by our operative units in Marawi matches that of Isnilon Hapilon,” Lorenzana said in a statement.
The same DNA testing was still being conducted on other cadavers, including those of Maute terrorist group leader Omar Maute and Malaysian terrorist Dr. Mahmud Ahmad, said Lorenzana.
Hapilon, leader of the Abu Sayyaf based in Basilan, was the purported emir of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia. Maute, on the other hand, was one of the leaders of the IS-linked local organization.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier offered a P10-million bounty for Hapilon on top of the $5 million offered by the United States. The Philippine government also offered a P5-million bounty for each of Maute and his brother.
MARAWI WAR ENDING TODAY?
Meanwhile, the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said it was certain that Marawi will be declared totally free from armed clashes today.
Government forces pursuing pro-IS extremists were just down to a few buildings, Westmincom’s Lieutenant General Ernesto Galvez Jr. said.
“Military and police operations are now focused only on a small area of enemy position, more or less three buildings,” Galvez said. “Also, there are about three or four hostages remaining.”
A day after Maute and Hapilon were killed, Duterte declared that Marawi was “liberated from terrorist influence.” He also announced last Thursday that Ahmad had been killed, too./PN
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