MANILA, Philippines — The military dismissed reports that most wanted terror leader Isnilon Hapilon is no longer in Marawi City, as troops are slowly closing in on remaining villages held by militant group Maute and its affiliates.
Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, the military spokesperson, on Friday said that the commander leading operations in Marawi against Islamist fighters has found no indications so far that Hapilon has made it outside the city.
"We checked [this report] and the announcement of Maj. Gen Rolando Bautista, the head of Task Force Marawi, was that it was not, and has not yet been proven... They believe [Hapilon] is still there," Padilla said in Filipino at a televised news conference at Malacañang.
Padilla said speculations on Hapilon's escape were put in motion after a journalist, citing ground sources, tweeted the report.
The attempted siege by the Maute militants was triggered by a botched military operation on May 23 to arrest Hapilon, leader of the Abu Sayyaf, who has reportedly been suffering from injuries.
READ: Who is the Philippines' most wanted militant, Isnilon Hapilon?
According to previous reports, Hapilon, whose head the United States has a bounty for, might have attempted to go back to Marawi after leaving the city a few days ago.
Tunnel network discovered
Padilla, meanwhile, confirmed that tunnels crisscrossing areas of the battered Lanao del Sur capital were discovered by troops. But he suggested that the tunnels have been around for decades and were not dug by the militants.
"We don't know yet the extent of that tunnel network, but old folks in Marawi said that those were already tunnels that existed before because of previous conflicts," Padilla said.
The tunnels were found to be below homes and buildings and may have possibly been used in the 1970s. However, cases of arms and ammunitions "where people could have taken safe haven in the event that bad elements come" were recently found in the tunnels, Padilla said.
The military is optimistic that the city can be liberated by June 12, the anniversary of the declaration of independence from Spain in 1898.
"[Armed Forces chief of staff Eduardo Año is] optimistic that our momentum and our pace is the right manner," Padillla said.
Only three remaining villages, the military said, are still in the hands of the Maute, a self-anointed affiliate of the Islamic State group. — Camille Diola