AFP: Hapilon holed up in Marawi village

MANILA, Philippines -  Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon is believed to be hiding with foreign terrorists in the area in Marawi City where 13 Marines were killed in a clash with the Maute militants over the weekend, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr.

He was referring to Barangay Lilod Madaya, where the Philippine Marines clashed with the Maute group last Friday from around 3:30 a.m. to around 6:30 p.m.

Padilla told radio station dzBB that foreign fighters have been in Mindanao even before the Marawi hostilities started on May 23, and suspected Hapilon’s presence in the area, which could be the reason it was highly fortified by the Maute group.

Hapilon is reportedly the emir of Islamic State (IS) terrorists in the Philippines.

Flags are draped on the caskets of 13 Marines in Iligan City before being transported to Villamor Airbase yesterday. GERRY LEE GORIT

The Maute group are also believed to be holding civilian hostages in the same village, the report further said.

“Sila ay napunta sa sektor na mukhang napasukan ng napakatinding depensa dahil po sa kinaroroonan na maaari ng mga hostages (They had gone to a sector that seemed to have a very strong defense because the hostages might be there),” Padilla said, referring to the Marines whose main objective was to secure the civilian hostages in the barangay.

The military official also assured they would try their best to conduct less air strikes and more ground assaults on areas still held by the terrorists in the coming days, the report said.

“Gagawin pa rin po natin iyan kung kinakailangan, pero iniiwasan po namin dahil malapitan na po ang labanan (We will resort to air strike if needed, but we are already avoiding it because the fighting is getting proximate),” he added.

As for the government’s plan to raise the Philippine flag at the Lanao del Sur provincial capitol in Marawi City today, Independence Day, Padilla said it would push through despite the loss of Marines.

4 civilians rescued

In a related development, four more trapped civilians were rescued by Peace Corridor volunteers from the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in coordination with the AFP-Western Mindanao Command units under commander Gen. Carlito Galvez, early yesterday in the city’s Bangolo area.

This has brought to 221 the total number of rescued non-combatants, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said in a statement.

Reports indicate that the three Maranaos and one Christian have been trapped in Barangay Moncado Colony, Marawi City since the start of the conflict. They were immediately processed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to establish their identities.

Following the rescue mission, the civilians were transferred to the medical clinic in the capitol grounds of Marawi and were given medical assistance.

‘Friendly fire’ report out

Meanwhile, the military’s Board of Inquiry has finished its probe on the “friendly fire” that killed 11 soldiers amid the ongoing skirmishes in Marawi City.

Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, who chairs the board, told The STAR that he signed last Friday the board’s report on the results of the probe.

Valencia, however, refused to divulge any information or detail about the report itself.

“For sure it is already with the Armed Forces chief of staff,” he said, stressing it would be up to AFP chief Eduardo Año on what to do next.

Day of silence, prayer

Malacañang also canceled yesterday’s airing of “Mindanao Hour” to join the AFP in observing a day of silence and prayer from yesterday to early morning today to honor “the fallen heroes of Marawi.”

“These brave men served the flag and the country with honor and we ask you to join us in prayer that the Almighty bless and guide their souls and comfort their bereaved families in this moment of grief,” a Malacañang advisory read.

“There will be many adjustments made. Our losses are because we put premium on saving more civilian lives and complete respect for the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights,” Padilla said.

Hopeful on Independence Day

Village officials of the besieged Marawi City are expectant that their constituents could go back to their respective homes in time for the celebration of the 119th Philippine Independence Day today.

Barangay Lumbac Marinaut chairman Wahab Dia said he is hopeful that Marawi can finally be cleared by today so that the people could return and begin restarting their lives, and he and members of his council could assess the damage.

Dia and other village leaders of Marawi will join ARMM officials, government executives and state security forces in raising the Philippine flag at the Lanao del Sur provincial capitol today, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Marawi City director Norhanie Marohombsar.

“All of the Marawi barangay officials are accounted for,” Marohombsar said, adding that none of them were killed in the conflict and that they were issued identification cards.

‘Nothing wrong with US aid’

Senators saw nothing wrong with the involvement of the US special forces in the Philippine government’s military operations against IS-linked Maute militants.

The lawmakers were commenting on reports that the US military has been assisting government troops, who have been battling the terrorists entrenched in Marawi City for nearly three weeks now.

The US embassy on Friday confirmed the deployment of a P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft over the battle zone, upon the request of the Philippine government, which the AFP admitted.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said the US military is providing only technical information and equipment support to Filipino troops.

“As long as the involvement involves technical assistance and providing intelligence information, the support of the US military should be a welcome move,” said Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on public order.

Vigilance, persistence

Philippine National Police – ARMM director Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac yesterday urged all policemen in Mindanao to be more vigilant and persistent so that Marawi may be liberated from the present crisis.

“The government is serious in its fight to end the cultists’ terror attack in Marawi and preempt their atrocious plans in the entire nation,” he said.

Sindac issued the call after the arrest of Maute matriarch Ominta Romato last Friday night while she was about to escape.

Australia’s concern heightened

The IS’ links in Southeast Asia have heightened Australia’s concern with the risk posed to the region by violent extremist organizations and returning foreign fighters who may resume positions in their own countries.

Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne said at the 27th Australia-US Ministerial Consultations that Australia is united with countries in their resolve to defeat the IS.

“They will come back with battlefield skills, they will come back with hardened ideology, they will come back angry, frustrated, and we need to be aware of that,” Payne said.

— Michael Punongbayan, Jose Rodel Clapano, Edith Regalado, Alexis Romero, Gerry Lee Gorit, Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Pia Lee-Brago