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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Saturday, June 24, 2017
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MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Omar Maute, one of the founders of the Maute terrorist group, has likely died in the ongoing battle in Marawi City.
AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año said there were strong indications that Maute was killed during one of the encounters there. However, his body was yet to be found and extracted by government troops.
“Omar Maute more or less mukhang patay na talaga,” said Año.
Maute’s brother Abdullah, however, was confirmed to be still alive in Marawi City with Isnilon Hapilon, said Año.
Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, spokesperson of the Joint Task Force Marawi, said they learned of the possible death of Omar two weeks ago yet.
“There were reports that Omar and Madie were killed in the operations. But we’re still validating this report,” said Herrera.
If the death of Omar were true, Herrera said, it would be a huge blow to the Islamic State-linked terrorist group which plotted the attack in Marawi City over a month ago.
Earlier this month, the brothers’ parents – father Cayamora and mother Farhana – were arrested in separate police operations in Mindanao.
The Maute group, also known as the Islamic State of Lanao, is a radical Islamist group composed of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerrillas and some foreign fighters.
The Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to ISIS, launched an attack against government troops in Marawi City on May 23./PN
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