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Maute group, Hapilon cornered in 500-square-meter area —AFP


Government forces have cornered in a 500-square-meter area the members of ISIS-inspired Maute group still holed up in Marawi City,   Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Eduardo Año said Tuesday. 

Año said that among the bandits in the area are their leaders, the brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute, and Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon, the primary subject of the government forces when they went to Marawi on May 23.

“Small area na lang ito, less than 500 square meters but sabi ko nga we will expect confrontation with Maute-ISIS as they do their last stand,” Año said.

“[As] far as we know Abdullah and Omar are still there. (Hapilon) is still there,” he added.

He said there was no way for the Maute members to get out of Marawi and for their allies to go in and reinforce their ranks.

“That’s our main goal. No way out, no way in. If they want to join, they want to go to heaven, sabi nila, so we will give them the chance to go to heaven,” he said.

The AFP chief earlier said that the military was preparing for one final push against the Maute group as the latter’s controlled area dwindled.

As of August 28, a total of 133 soldiers and police have been killed in the firefight while 614 were killed on the enemy side.

A total of 45 civilians have also perished while 1,728 have been rescued. —NB, GMA News

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