Hapilon could still be in Marawi –AFP

The Abu Sayyaf leader said to have been anointed by Islamic State as its “emir” in the Philippines might still be in Marawi City, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

According to AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituo Padilla Jr. at the launch of Mindanao Hour in Malacañang on Monday, the authorities believe that the Maute-led group had intensified its grip in its strongholds in Marawi City because Isnilon Hapilon was still in the area.

“Sa ngayon, may impormasyon at naniniwala kami na nariyan pa siya at maaaring ito ang dahilan kaya ang pag-depensa sa mga ilang lugar ay nagiging matindi. So ‘yun lang po ang masasabi ko sa ngayon,” he said.

Hapilon is reportedly working with the Maute group in establishing a "wilayat" or a provincial ISIS territory in Lanao del Sur.

“Nasa interes po ng bayan, nasa interes po ng bawat mamamayan ng Marawi na makuha po siya,” Padilla added.

The Maute-led group attacked Marawi City as government forces were about to serve a warrant of arrest on Hapilon on May 23. The clashes prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao on the same day even though he was in Moscow with top government officials.

In his martial law report to Congress, Duterte said that the attack on Marawi City was an essential step for lawless armed groups to take over the entire island of Mindanao. — BM, GMA News