Hapilon, Maute deaths mean Marawi conflict near its end—Lorenzana

FILE: Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. (PNA photo)

The deaths of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute indicate that the continuing conflict in Marawi City is near its end, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday.

Lorenzana confirmed in a press briefing that the two leaders have been killed in an operation carried out by the government forces.

“The implication of this is that the end of the Marawi incident is near and we may announce the termination of hostilities in a couple of days,” Lorenzana said.

The defense chief added that the bodies of Hapilon and Maute will be subjected to DNA test to formally confirm their identities.

“They will be subjected to DNA test because several rewards coming from foreign countries and also from us. I think Maute has a P5-million reward on his head. Isnilon has $5-million reward on his head plus another P10 million from the government so that’s huge money,” he said.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella also verified the reports.

“We confirm that government forces killed Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon early morning today, Monday, the 16th of October in Marawi City,” Abella said.

“Initial report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ground commanders in Marawi mentioned that the two terrorist leaders, Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon, were neutralized while government troops were conducting an operation to retake the last remaining Daesh-Maute stronghold in the city.  Our operating units have already recovered their bodies,” he added.

Abella added that the government troops have rescued 17 civilian hostages during the operation.

“Mopping up operations are now underway,” he added.

Abella also said that the end of the conflict will be announced once the armed forces have guaranteed that the remaining terrorists holed up in the city are neutralized or captured and that they have cleared all structures of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other traps.

“Once the fighting stops and the clearing operations end, we will put our efforts and energies on the challenging task of rebuilding and rehabilitating Marawi,” the spokesperson added.