Gov't had prior info on Marawi attack, Bato admits

Government security forces had prior information on the impending attack on Marawi City by the ISIS-inspired Maute group, although they were clueless on the exact date the attack will be carried out, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa admitted Tuesday.

"Hindi namin alam na 'yun 'yung talagang time nila but we know na mayroong impending [attack]," Dela Rosa told a news conference. "As to the exact time, specific date, alam lang natin na mayroong forthcoming."

Had he known the date of the planned attack, Dela Rosa said he and other government officials would not have joined President Rodrigo Duterte in his official visit to Russia.

"Had we known the timing of the attack, siguro hindi kami sasama," he said.

Duterte and ranking government security officials, including Dela Rosa, were in Russia on May 23 when the siege of Marawi City started, prompting him to cut short the visit and put the entire Mindanao under martial law.

Asked why he only made his first public appearance on Tuesday since the Resorts World Manila attack, Dela Rosa joked that he hid in Marawi City. "Nandoon ako sa Marawi, nagtatago ako sa Marawi," he said.

Dela Rosa noted that he had a "terrorism-related" operation which he refused to disclose as his response turned to a more serious tone.

"Tahimik lang tayo, mayroon lang special operation na ginawa, terrorism-related. Di lang ako magbigay ng details," he said. —KBK, GMA News