AFP believes Hapilon, foreign fighters holed up in village where 13 Marines were killed

Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, the reported emir of ISIS in the Philippines, and foreign terrorists could be holed up in a village in Marawi City where 13 Marines were killed, a military spokesman said Sunday.

"Itong pinagpupugaran na hinaharap ng ating mga Marino ay pinaniniwalaan natin na pinagpupugaran ng mga foreign fighters," Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told radio dzBB.

Padilla said the foreign fighters could be already in Mindanao even before the conflict in Marawi City started on May 23, and had reinforced the Maute group at the height of the conflict.

Padilla said they also suspect Hapilon's presence in the area, which could be the reason why the village was highly fortified by the Maute group.

Thirteen members of the Philippine Marines were killed and 40 others were hurt in a 16-hour clash against the militants in Barangay Lilod Madaya.

Padilla said they also believe that the Maute group are holding civilian hostages in the same village.

"Sila ay napunta sa sektor na mukhang napasukan ng napakatinding depensa dahil po sa kinaroroonan na maaari ng mga hostages," he said.

Authorities said the Philippine Marines' clash with the Maute group in Barangay Lilod Madaya started around 3:30 a.m. and ended around 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

The number of Marine fatalities was confirmed by the military only on Saturday.

Padilla said the main objective of the Marines was to secure the civilian hostages in Barangay Lilod Madaya.

He said that in the coming days, there will be less airstrikes and more ground assaults despite the loss on Friday.

"Ground assault po sa lahat ng lugar na patuloy na hawak nila at sisikapin po natin gawin iyon sa mga susunod na araw," Padilla said, adding that airstrikes will be carried out only when needed.

"Gagawin pa rin po natin iyan (airstrike) kung kinakailangan, pero iniiwasan po namin dahil malapitan na po ang labanan," he added.

The military spokesman could not say how many Maute group and foreign fighters they are still facing in the few remaining areas in Marawi City, including in Barangay Lilod Madaya.

He said details about the foreign fighters will come out only after the operations in Marawi City have ended.

Padilla said the government's plan to raise the Philippine flag in Marawi City on Independence Day will push through despite the loss of Marines.

He said the flag-raising will be held at the Lanao del Sur provincial capitol in the city.

The number of Marines killed on Friday brought the government's death toll to 58. The military believes 138 militants, including  foreign fighters, have been killed in the ongoing conflict.

A total of 21 civilians, meanwhile, have been killed by the Maute group.

The Maute group's attack in Marawi City prompted President Rodrigo Duterte's martial law declaration in Mindanao. —ALG, GMA News