Año won’t confirm Duterte’s claim that Chinese rifles used to kill Hapilon, Maute

The military used Chinese sniper rifles in Marawi City but Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año would not say if they were the same guns used to take out bandit leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute.

Año said details as regards the killing of the terrorists were confidential.

“Huwag ko nang sagutin (‘yan), pero ‘yung Chinese sniper rifles talagang ginamit natin iyan  diyan sa Marawi. ‘Yung mga sniper rifles kung hindi ako nagkakamali, LR4A ang kanyang category, not standard, very effective, very effective,” Año told reporters.

“Ano naman yun confidential,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte in a recent speech said that China's help in the ridding Marawi of ISIS-inspired Maute bandits was valuable.

He even claimed that the rifle used to kill Abu Sayyaf leaders and ISIS emir in southeast Asia Hapilon and Maute was among the weapons donated by China.

“China, dalawang beses na naglipad dito para sa… And ‘yung sniper [rifle] nila was of great help. ‘Yung mahaba nila na sniper [rifle]. ‘Yun ang nakakuha kay ano—‘yung dalawa ng madaling araw," Duterte said.

"Yun ang nakakuha, it’s about a distance of about one kilometer. Isang kilometro ‘yun eh. Eh walang hangin pagka umaga. ‘Yun ang nagamit natin,” he added.

A sniper's shot to the head finished off Maute, while Hapilon was killed by gunshots to the chest Monday last week.

Meanwhile, Año expressed confidence that all the 250 members of the Maute group are now dead.

He said Maute members grew in numbers because of the promise of money.

“‘Yung Maute group na yan, ‘yung 250 at that time nung pumasok sila solid yan, ang nagparami sa kanila yung additional recruits na pinangakuhan nila ng initial na pagpasok mo P15,000 a month at kung manalo sila sa Marawi P30,000 a month ang sweldo," Año said.

“Kaya dumami ‘yung recruits nila because of the promise of money at kukunin ‘yung pera na ‘yun sa mga loot nila, sa mga looting,” he added.

He believed it would take a time before Maute could recover and stage an act similar to what they did ni Marawi.

“Sa tingin ko matagal na panahon ‘yang maga-atempt sila magrecover, they don’t have such capability na ginawa nila katulad dito sa Marawi,” Año said.

He added the military just need to be on the lookout on lone wolf attacks.

“Ang babantayan lang natin dito yung mga lone wolf attack, ‘yung merong isa, dalawa at magpapakitang gilas at magpapasabog ng IED (improvised explosive device). Wala sanang mangyaring ganun, pero ‘yung scale na ginawa nila, they don’t have any capability,” Año said. —NB, GMA News