Tag: Marawi

Hapilon in video of Islamist militants planning Marawi siege; Phl military gets hold of footage

  Islamist militants locked in an urban battle with troops in Marawi City had long planned to carve out an enclave of their own in Mindanao to fulfill a requirement for them to be recognized by the Islamic State (IS) international terror group. This was according to the military after the emergence of a video showing the Islamist militants’ leaders in a secret strategy meeting, and among them was Abu Sayyaf leader and touted as […]

Marawi evacuees face health risks, uncertain future as fighting continues

  More than 200,000 people displaced after Islamist militants — led by Maute and Abu Sayyaf fighters —  attacked Marawi City, are now uncertain about their future, since evacuating from the city that had been their home for years. As they grapple with the challenge of finding a safe place to live, they also face serious health problems, relief groups said Friday which noted that the onset of the rainy season could still worsen their situation. […]

High-powered firearms, ammo, drugs recovered from Marawi ex-mayor’s house

(Eagle News)– Combined operatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recovered high-powered firearms, ammunition, and some sachets of alleged shabu at the house of former Marawi City Mayor Fajad Salic in Cagayan de Oro City. Authorities went to the former mayor’s housefollowing his arrest on Wednesday for alleged participation in the Maute group’s activities. A relative of Salic said the items recovered by authorities were just planted […]

Military eyes Marawi City liberation on Independence Day

(Eagle News)– The military is eyeing to liberate Marawi City on Independence Day. “Rest assured, our soldiers are doing their part, they’re doing their best and are continuing on with this effort on the ground to facilitate the liberation of Marawi hopefully by Monday,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said during the Mindanao Hour briefing on Friday. “The chief of staff made the announcement hoping that Monday we […]

AFP denies Isnilon Hapilon has left Marawi

(Eagle News)– The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday (June 9) denied that Abu Sayyaf group leader Isnilon Hapilon had slipped out of Marawi City amid ongoing offensive efforts of government forces against Maute group. “Hindi po ‘to napapatibayan. Hindi po ito totoo at naniniwala sila [troops] na nandoon pa [si Hapilon],” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said during the Mindanao Hour briefing in Malacañang. Photos and videos of Hapilon earlier […]

Maute patriarch, 4 others transferred to Metro Manila jail for “security reasons”

(Eagle News) — The patriarch of the Maute clan, Cayamora Maute, his second wife and two other companions were transferred to a secure Metro Manila jail facility past midnight Wednesday, a day after they were arrested at a Davao City checkpoint. The 67-year old father of the Maute brothers Abdullah and Omarkhayam who were responsible for forming the Maute terror group is now inside the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) jail complex inside […]

Authorities arrest former Marawi mayor suspected of financing activities of Maute terrorists

(Eagle News) — Authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of former Marawi Mayor Fahad Umpar Salic who is suspected of financing the activities of the terrorist group Maute. Gilbert Gapay, martial law spokesperson for Eastern Mindanao, said Salic–who figures in the first arrest order issued by defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, martial law administrator—was apprehended at a joint Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police checkpoint on Wednesday night. His three other companions were also arrested, Gapay said. […]

President Duterte reiterates creation of P50-billion education fund for soldiers’ children

“I will be there to protect you,” the President tells the troops   (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday reiterated the creation of a P50-billion education fund for the children of soldiers, as he emphasized he was behind his men who were fighting the good fight. In a speech before the 1st Mechanized Brigade in Camp Leonon in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, Duterte said he already found P20 billion, and would only add P30 billion […]

Featured video: Displaced Marawi children draw their tragic experience in war-torn city

https://youtu.be/5-dEefh1G-M (Eagle News) — A girl weeps as she tries to draw a tragic scene that she witnessed in her well-loved home city of Marawi. She bows her head, drawing her knees close to her body, and sobs, holding a pencil and a pad paper. She doesn’t want to look up. Her once peaceful environment was shattered when Islamist terrorists — combined forces of Maute rebels, the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters […]

President Duterte makes offer for “able-bodied” NPA fighters to become gov’t soldiers

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday made the offer for New People’s Army “able-bodied” and qualified “soldiers” to fight for the government instead, noting that the communist insurgency has already gone on for around 50 years. “I am again addressing myself to the NPA…Kayong mga sundalo sa NPA, kung gusto niyo sumali sa government ko, I will take you in as soldiers of the country…Anytime. Bumaba lang kayo at magtrain..,” he said during his visit to a military camp in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, […]