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Palace: Religious leaders’ talks with Maute group not sanctioned by gov’t


The government will not consider the demands conveyed through local religious leaders by the ISIS-inspired Maute group during an 8-hour truce for Eid'l Fitr in Marawi City, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a briefing held at the Kalayaan Hall (for the first time under the Duterte administration) said that for one thing, the reported talks were not sanctioned by the government.

“[The] Government’s policy not to negotiate with terrorists remains. The talks led by local religious leaders with the terrorists last Sunday is one that was not sanctioned by the government, the military, and our political leaders hence, any demands made during the talks hold no basis,” he told reporters.

Abella added that terrorists must be held accountable for all their actions in Marawi City, where government troops continue to battle members of the Maute group and other local terrorists.

According to reports, Abdullah Maute offered to swap Marawi priest Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob for his parents, Cayamora and Ominta "Farhana" Maute, and some arrested members of the clan.

But Abella insisted the government does not negotiate with terrorists.

However, he expressed openness to the idea for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to intervene in the situation by persuading terrorists to leave Marawi City — MDM/KVD, GMA News

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