The military on Saturday said it was verifying reports Isnilon Hapilon has escaped Marawi. Hapilon, a veteran Filipino militant who claims to be the leader of the Islamic State (IS) group in Southeast Asia, has not been seen in the battle zone, said Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, head of the military’s Western Mindanao Command. An attempt by government troops to arrest Hapilon in Marawi on May 23 triggered a rampage by Islamist militants flying black […]
Tag: Marawi
Exclusive: Russia fully supports PHL government’s fight vs terrorism in Marawi, says ambassador
Stresses importance of united front to fight int’l terrorism based on Russia’s experience QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Russian ambassador to the Philippines H. E. Igor Khovaev said Russia “fully supports” the Philippine government’s fight against terrorism in Mindanao, saying the terrorist attack in Marawi City was “an attack on all of us.” “I would like first to emphasize that we fully support a fair, legitimate struggle for the Philippine nation against […]
Philippine gov’t verifying reports that Malaysian financier and Maute brother killed in Marawi fighting
A Malaysian militant and former university professor who allegedly funded the Islamist militants in Marawi City was among those killed by government forces in the besieged city, according to intelligence information received by the government forces as fighting entered its second month. Wire reports from the Associated Press quoted Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Eduardo Ano as saying that Malaysian Mahmud bin Ahmad, who reportedly channeled more than $600,000 or P30 million […]
The Mautes of the Philippines: from monied family to Islamic State-linked group
MANILA/MARAWI CITY, Philippines (Reuters) — Before they formed one of the most dreaded militant groups in the Philippines and pledged loyalty to Islamic State, the Mautes were a wealthy, political family in the southern region of Mindanao, largely influenced by the matriarch, Farhana. Soft-spoken and reserved, 60-year-old Farhana Maute owns property in Mindanao and in Manila, and runs a construction business, say people who know the family and security analysts who have scrutinized its […]
Military says Omar Maute likely dead; Gov’t troops closing in on brother Abdullah, Abu Sayyaf’s Hapilon
(Eagle News) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Thursday that one of the leaders of the terrorist group Maute was likely dead. “Omar(khayam) Maute, more or less, mukhang patay na ito,” General Eduardo Año said in an ambush interview on the sidelines of a security meeting in Pasay. According to Año, his brother Abdullah was, however, still alive, and was still inside Marawi. The “death” of Omarkhayam comes weeks after the arrest of Cayamora […]
Australia sends spy planes to southern Philippines
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australian military spy planes will start flying missions over the southern Philippines to help in the fight against Islamic militants terrorizing the area, the government said Friday. Fighters linked to the Islamic State (IS) group have been battling troops for a month around Marawi city in the Mindanao region in a conflict that has claimed lives. Canberra, which has an extensive defense cooperation program with Manila, said two high-tech AP-3C Orion aircraft […]
Duterte, Widodo, reaffirm commitment vs terrorism in phone conversation
(Eagle News) — The Philippines and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to fight terrorism in a phone conversation on Wednesday night, as Philippine government troops closed in on local terrorist groups wreaking havoc in Marawi. Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the call between President Rodrigo Duterte and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo was “productive and fruitful.” He said it was President Duterte who received the Indonesian counterpart’s phone call, which came at a time Philippine government troops were battling […]
Gov’t gears up for looming return of evacuees to Marawi as troops close in on Maute, Abu Sayyaf
(Eagle News) — The government is now gearing up for the looming return of evacuees to Marawi, as government troops close in on local terrorists who have wrought havoc in the city. In a briefing in Malacanang on Thursday, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said President Rodrigo Duterte was “setting aside” P20 billion for the “reconstruction” of Marawi, where government troops are close to defeating members of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups that have pledged […]
More than 170 families evacuated as BIFF rebels attack two barangays in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato
(Eagle News) — More than 170 families from Pigcawayan town in North Cotabato have been evacuated after the reported attack of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Barangays Malagakit and Simsiman around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21. The BIFF fighters were armed with rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and he several hostages, according to a police source in the area. “Marami sila,” said the source, adding that the enemy forces had lots of “snipers” as government […]
LOOK: President Duterte uses presidential plane to take 9 soldiers wounded in Marawi to Manila for treatment
In these photos made available by the Presidential Communications Operations Office, President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on board the presidential plane with nine soldiers who were wounded in Marawi. The nine soldiers were taken by the President on a presidential flight from Cagayan de Oro to Manila, where they were to undergo medical treatment.
President Duterte visits wounded soldiers in Cagayan de Oro to boost their morale
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday (June 20) visited wounded troops sent to a hospital in neighboring Cagayan De Oro City to award medals and raise his soldiers’ morale, the same day he made his first visit to Marawi evacuees in Iligan City. Fighting in Marawi City has entered a fifth week, and nearly 350 people have been killed, according to an official count. Fleeing residents have said they have seen scores of bodies in the […]
President Duterte says sorry to Maranaos, vows to rebuild Marawi as he visits evacuees in Iligan City
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday (June 20) visited evacuees from Marawi City staying in Iligan City, promising them that his government will rebuild their city and make it beautiful again. This was the first time that the President visited the Marawi evacuees since the fighting erupted almost a month ago in this southern city which is the capital and the largest city of the province of Lanao del Sur on the island […]





