THE military confirmed Tuesday that heavy fighting with Maute Group members in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, was aimed at taking out Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was spotted in the area with 15 followers.
Armed Forces spokesman Gen. Restituto Padilla said five government soldiers were wounded in the fighting that started at 2 p.m.
“Contrary to reports and rumors you are receiving, the AFP-PNP initiated this operation in Marawi. We received reliable info on Hapilon and a number of his cohorts. Updates to follow as the operation is still ongoing. Please do not believe propaganda from other groups, “ he added.
Hapilon, reportedly the representative of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Philippines, was said to be severely wounded after a series of military offensives in Lanao del Sur early this January.
Military officials said the Maute Group tried to occupy vital installations but met resistance from government troops.
Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said the five injured soldiers were taken to hospital for treatment.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Herrera said the military monitored the presence of Hapilon and the Maute Group at 2 p.m. a few meters from the Marawi City Hall and an adjoining hospital, possible targets of the extremists.
“We detected that this was the core of the Maute Group, so we launched a surgical operation to neutralize the group planning to sow terrorism in Marawi City,” Herrera said.
“Initially, we spotted 15 armed men, including the reported presence of Isnilon Hapilon,” Herrera said.
At the height of the fighting, the Maute group launched a disinformation campaign on social media as a way of diverting the military, Herrera added.
Earlier, Gulf News reported that residents in Marawi City reported heavy fighting the likes of which they had not seen since the 1970s Moro uprising.
Reports said police commandos backed by the Army’s 103rd Brigade clashed with the members of the Maute Group, who had besieged the city jail in an attempt to free their jailed comrades.
Residents said they saw the black banner of the terrorist Islamic State mounted on vehicles on the streets of Marawi Tuesday as the fighting raged. Others posted photos of soldiers and choppers and Maute terrorists with their black flags on social media.
In November 2016 and January 2017, Maute terrorists attacked and occupied the municipality of Butig in Lanao del Norte, resulting in dozens of casualties for both sides.