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Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute killed


Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute, one of the leaders of the ISIS-inspired Maute group that attacked Marawi City, have been killed.

Colonel Edgard Arevalo, public information chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said they received field reports that the two local terror leaders are dead.

Arevalo said they are still waiting for official confirmation of the reports.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday said he has also received reports about the deaths of Hapilon and Maute.

"May natanggap akong mga reports pero hindi ko pwedeng i-announce. Hindi ko makumpirma but may impormasyon na. I'm not at liberty to announce it," he told reporters at a news forum at Kamuning Bakery Cafe.

Radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag reported that two sources confirmed the information to him.

According to a report by Emil Sumangil on News To Go on Monday, both Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed in a "final assault" Sunday midnight by selected members of the Army's Scout Ranger Regiment and several special forces.

Hapilon and Omar Maute, according to the TV report, were killed inside a building beside the Binidayan dock in Lanao del Sur.

The bodies of the two are now at a military headquarters to undergo DNA tests, along with other members of the Maute group killed during the operation.

The radio report said the confirmation of Hapilon and Maute's deaths may have already reached President Rodrigo Duterte. Malacañang and Defense officials, however, have yet to issue any statement on the matter.

Hapilon is said to be the emir of international terror group ISIS in Southeast Asia.

Hostages

Meanwhile, the radio report also said that 17 hostages were rescued during the operation, and are now undergoing debriefing.

Citing sources, the report said that no more hostages remain with the terrorist group.

It said the military are now conducting clearing operations in the main battle area.

In an earlier dzBB report, at least 20 civilian hostages of the local terror group were rescued by troops over the weekend.

Offensive continues

Meanwhile, Arevalo said the government forces' offensives in Marawi City continues.

"Meantime, our units in the frontline are continuing  with their offensives to neutralize the remaining terrorists and rescue their hostages to end the crisis in Marawi,"

The ongoing clashes in Marawi started May 23 when government forces tried to serve an arrest warrant on Hapilon.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier said that the other Maute brothers—Abdullah, Madi and Otto—have been killed in the clashes.

The news comes a day after the self-imposed deadline of the military to rid Marawi City of Maute terrorists.

Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez last week said that the fighting will end on or before October 15, Sunday.

Galvez said then that the fighting was concentrated only in a five-hectare area. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez and Amita Legaspi/ALG/KG, GMA News

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