04 July 2017

News Story: Hapilon hiding in Marawi mosque, says Lorenzana

By Rosette Adel

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday said Abu Sayyaf group senior leader Isnilon Hapilon, an internationally wanted terrorist, is still in Marawi City.

"According to our latest information, he's (Hapilon) still inside Marawi," Lorenzana said during the Mindanao Hour press briefing.

"In fact, there is an information we got this morning that he was hiding in one of the mosques there in Marawi. I think this is maybe correct," he added.

Lorenzana claimed that the information on Hapilon's whereabouts came from ground forces.

The defense chief, who is also administrator of martial law in Mindanao, is confident that the information on Hapilon is likely to be accurate, since his possible arrival in Basilan is also being monitored. Three fighters arrived in Basilan more than a week ago but the Abu Sayyaf leader was not one of them, Lorenzana noted.

Read the full story at PhilStar