No proof yet Hapilon escaped Marawi – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is regarding with caution reports that Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon has escaped the military cordon in Marawi City, where the military is continuing its air strikes and surgical operations against terrorists that attacked the city last May 23.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the government is still gathering proof on the whereabouts of Hapilon, who joined forces with the Maute group.

“For now, all of these (reports on Hapilon) remain raw information, requiring validation by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and various security agencies of government. Hence, we cannot issue any categorical statement on the matter until we get proof,” Abella added.

Abella said that Hapilon’s reported abandonment of the Maute group is an act of cowardice.

“Granting that this is true, it would be a clear sign of cowardice because he abandoned his companions and has run away from the battle,” he said.

“It may also be indicative of the infighting that may now be going on within the group. It may be a matter of time before they disintegrate or self-destruct,” said Abella, citing a previous military statement.

According to accounts of rescued civilians, an official of the Ranao Rescue Team confirmed that the Maute terrorists have conducted several summary executions but no beheading of either Muslim or Christian hostages.

“We have been in the field where fighting was intense since day one and have rescued several civilian Maranaos and Christians and they told us there were captives who were executed but none of them remember any beheading,” said Amira Gutoc-Tomawis, chair of Ranao Rescue Team that rescued several civilians trapped in the war zone in Marawi City.

She said a human rights group would arrive in Marawi and validate reports of any beheading or human rights violations.

Escape route

The military intensified patrols in Lake Lanao to prevent the Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists from using the lake as an escape route to slip out of Marawi City.

Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, spokesman for Task Force Marawi, said the terrorists have used the lake to smuggle arms into the city.

“We have increased visibility, we increased patrol in the lake,” Herrera said.

He said security was beefed up after a member of Maute transporting ammunition and extracting wounded members through the lake was captured.

Herrera did not discount the possibility that some terrorists have slipped out of Marawi to escape the intense military operations.

“The ground forces tightened the cordon and monitor those specially who slipped out of the battle area,” Herrera said.

Military clearing operations continued as troops conducted house-to-house clearing measures to flush out the terrorists and detonate improvised bombs rigged by the enemy.

Herrera said troops had to conduct the clearing before the retrieval team comes in to gather the remains of civilians killed by the Maute group. 

The recovered remains are being transported to Iligan City for forensic examination to identify the victims.

The Bangsamoro Women group through Jehan and Musanifah Dida-agun asked people from Iligan, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte to have patience and understand the plight of evacuees from Marawi.

“We know, we (evacuees) are a burden to you, but please understand us,” they said.

At the same time, they appealed to President Duterte to stop the air strikes destroying their houses. 

Local businessman William Macala said the air strikes are not the solution to drive out the Maute terrorists but a dialogue should be started by forming a panel.

The Commission on Human Rights yesterday urged the government to come up with a mechanism that will ensure the protection of people against torture.  – With Janvic Mateo, Roel Pareño, Lino de la Cruz