Escaped female hostage gave military location of Hapilon, Maute: Lorenzana

October 16, 2017

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed the death of the two terrorist leaders in Marawi City during the military operation on Monday morning, thanks to a lead they got from a female hostage who was able to escape on Sunday.

“Yes I confirm the killing of (Isnilon) Hapilon and Omar Maute this morning, early this morning,” he told reporters in an ambush interview in Camp Aguinaldo.

“We were supposed to go to Marawi with the president but were prevailed upon by the commanders on the ground to postpone our trip because they are going to conduct the assault today, this morning," he said.

"So following their operational plan they were able to do it this morning, they were able to get Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute, they were both killed, in fact their faces have already been splashed in the internet and in the websites,” Lorenzana added.

Lorenzana said  government forces confirmed the location of Hapilon and Omar from a female hostage who escaped last Sunday.

“It was an operation because yesterday they were able to get a testimony from a hostage that was able to escape and she (hostage) was able to confirm the presence of Isnilon and (Omar) Maute in that particular building, so that’s the building that we assaulted this morning, early this morning,” he added.

Lorenzana said the bodies of Hapilon and Omar will be subjected to DNA testing.

“Yes they will be subjected to DNA test because there are rewards coming from a foreign country and also from us. I think Maute has a five million pesos reward on his head, Isnilon has a five million dollars reward on his head plus another 10 ( million) from the government, so it’s huge money,” he said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Eduardo Ano said the government forces were conducting rescue operation within the two buildings in the city when they have encountered terrorists which caused the death of some of their members including the two leaders.

Ano said the military were able to recover seven cadavers of the terrorist that were killed during the fire fight that started around 2 am until 6 am (Monday.

“We have recovered seven cadavers now, we're still clearing the area,” he said.

Lorenzana added government forces were able to rescue 17 hostages and "mopping up operations are underway.”

“According to some reports last week there are about 40 (hostages left), so minus 17 plus 1, so 18, there are around 21 or 22 ,” he added, referring to remaining hostages in Marawi City.

Although the military operation against the other terrorist members in the city has continued, Ano said  the death of the two terrorist leaders means “this is the end” for the Maute group.

“It means, it is their center of gravity. All of them will crumble. We already see that it's nearing its end we just really have to get this two (terrorist leaders) to assure that their leadership is finished. This is the center of gravity. It ends and elsewhere, even in other areas with Maute/ISIS they will crumble,” he said.

Ano refused to give another deadline on when the military will finally end the battle in Marawi but he expressed his belief the conflict will finish within this week.

“I cannot say but I believe, that it will end before end of this week,” he said.

Lorenzana said they will "announce the termination of hostilities once government forces have ensured that there are no more terrorists-stragglers in the city and we have cleared all structures of IEDs and other traps."

"After the fighting stops, we will refocus our efforts on the challenging task of rebuilding and rehabilitating Marawi," he said.

Lorenzana noted that even after the conflict in the city will end the military will have to assess whether they will recommend lifting or to continue implementation of martial law in Mindanao.

“We are only looking in the immediate aftermath of the killing of these two leaders, we may, as I said we may be lifting, I mean announcing the cessation of hostilities within this week. Then after that we will find out, we will assess...  if there is a need to recommend to the president the lifting of martial law,” he said. Robina Asido/DMS