Duterte offers P10-M bounty for Hapilon, P5M for each Maute brother

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has set a P10-million bounty for the neutralization of Abu Sayyaf group senior leader Isnilon Hapilon.

 “The president is offering P10 million [in] reward money for the neutralization of Isnilon Hapilon, who is believed to be leading the terrorist Maute-ISIS group in attacking Marawi City,” Gen. Eduardo Año, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, said on Monday.

Hapilon is believed to be the “emir” of ISIS in the country. He swore allegiance to ISIS as shown in a YouTube video posted in July 2014.

Duterte’s offer will be over and above the $5-million bounty offered by the US government on Hapilon’s head.

According to the AFP, Hapilon has an outstanding warrant of arrest for kidnapping with ransom and serious illegal detention. He also has a P7.4-million standing bounty from the Philippine government.

Aside from Hapilon, Duterte also offered a bounty of P5 million for each of the two Maute brothers, Abdullah and Omar. The siblings founded the group, originally named Dawlah Islamiya — but which eventually became known as the Maute group — that launched the attack in Marawi City.

The AFP is optimistic that through Duterte’s offer, the military will get the same support and assistance that the people and the local government have given them in the Bohol incident.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines welcomes the pronouncement of President Duterte. We hope that this will bear significant accomplishments leading to the eventual arrest and neutralization of Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute Brothers,” Año said.

“This reflects the resolve of the administration to get the terrorists dead or alive to finally end the conflict in Marawi City,” AFP Public Affairs Chief Col. Edgard Arevalo concluded. —Rosette Adel