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By APD writer Melo M. Acuna
MANILA, June 22 (APD) – Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Eduardo Ano said they believe Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon is still in Marawi City while Omar Maute may have been killed earlier in fierce battles between the separatist group and government forces in Marawi City.
“Hapilon is still inside Marawi City why his members continue to fight because he’s still there but Omar (Maute) looks like he’s been killed and Abdullah (Maute) still alive,” General Ano said in a chance interview with local and foreign mediamen at the sidelines of the Trilateral Meeting on Security at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.
The military chief refused to given another timeline to finish the operations because soldiers are pressured and losing soldiers in the process.
“We lost one soldier yesterday but had 24 wounded troopers yesterday as government troops cleared some 56 buildings in the area,” he said.
It was learned there are three more villages up for clearing.
General Ano said they received reports of foreign nationals fighting on the side of the Maute.
“There were 40 of them, some from Malaysia while others came from Indonesia though not all are in Marawi City,” the military commander explained.
He said some have already been killed but the government failed to recover the remains.
He said a civilian has come forward claiming ownership of the millions of pesos the soldiers recovered from a home where Maute elements once held fort.
However, the military commander said it is up for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the claim.
“The military will just focus on fighting to regain control of the city,” he explained.
He also downplayed beliefs that more Moslems will fight on the side of the Maute after Ramadan because most Moslems do not engage in battle during the holy month.
General Ano said religious leaders have an important role to play because they weild some influence over their fauithful.
During the rehabilitation phase, Moslem religious leaders would be able to forestall or halt the recruitment of young Moslems to radical groups.
Most ISIS recruits in ASEAN come from Indonesia and Malaysia.
He explained the trilateral maritime patrol was created to stop transnational crimes including kidnap for ransom and piracy in the high seas.
Asked if there would be military agreements between the three countries, General Ano said there’s no need for agreements because there are existing ones.
The cooperation would come in intelligence-sharing and joint military trainings.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
