Palace: Isnilon Hapilon 'still very much in Marawi'
September 3, 2017 | 6:32am
Abu Sayyaf group senior leader Isnilon Hapilon swore allegiance to ISIS as seen in a YouTube video posted in July 2014.
MANILA, Philippines — The Palace on Sunday said that terrorist leader Isnilon Hapilon is believed to still be in Marawi City but said that the government is validating reports that he has fled to Basilan.
"We treat numerous reports saying that Isnilon Hapilon has left Marawi and has been seen openly in Basilan as raw information," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement on Sunday.
He said that information has to be further validated "by the military and various security agencies of government."
Joint Task Force Basilan, which handles security operations in that province, said last week that it has been combing the island for Hapilon's followers to preempt potential sympathy attacks for their trapped leader.
Col. Juvymax Uy, task force commander, said the military is also watching out for movements that could indicate Hapilon is returning or has returned.
Hapilon, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, is said to be the emir or leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the Philippines.
Hapilon, who has been reported in the past as either injured or killed in a military airstrike even before the Marawi crisis, linked up with the Maute local terrorist group in Lanao del Sur and helped them lay siege to parts of Marawi City, the provincial capital, in May.
Abella said that if reports that Hapilon has returned to Basilan are true, "it would mean he chose to abandon his men as the battle of Marawi nears its final stretch."
After more than 100 days of fighting, the military said the militants are now trapped in 500-square meter main battle area.
"[R]ecent military assessments indicate [Hapilon] is still very much in Marawi," Abella said.
"Our forces are hot on their heels and it will only be a matter of time before we get him," he said.
BrandSpace Articles
<
>
Philstar
- Latest
- Trending
Trending
Latest
Trending
By Delon Porcalla | 10 hours ago
By Bella Cariaso | 10 hours ago
By Janvic Mateo | 10 hours ago
By Bella Cariaso | 10 hours ago
Latest
By Delon Porcalla | 10 hours ago
By Delon Porcalla | 10 hours ago
By Mayen Jaymalin | 10 hours ago
By Louella Desiderio | 10 hours ago
Recommended
10 hours ago
