News Story: Philippine defense chief says pro-IS militants offer to surrender

MANILA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Thursday that an undermined number of the Maute extremists that laid siege to the southern Philippine city of Marawi have offered to surrender.

Lorenzana said a local official, Lanao del Sur Rep. Mauyag Papandayan, relayed to him the pro-Islamic State militants' plan to surrender and give up the fight.

The pro-IS extremists have been fighting the government since May 23, putting up a bitter fight to gain control of the city.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Philippine military may liberate Marawi City from extremists by Sept. 30 - defense chief

MANILA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The more than four-month battle to retake the southern Philippine city of Marawi from pro-Islamic State extremists may end this weekend, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Wednesday.

Citing the assessment of military ground commanders, Lorenzana told reporters at the House of Representatives that he is confident that the troops will completely gain control of the city by Sept. 30.

"Our military commanders on the ground said that they will end the conflict before the end of this month, so they have three days to do the job," Lorenzana said.

"I'm very confident, I'm very confident with the abilities of our soldiers to do their job."

The military has been battling the pro-Islamic State Maute group since May 23, when the militants occupied a large part of the city. The war has continued and dragged on for 129 days, killing nearly 700 militants and more than 150 government security forces.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Duterte now claims arrest warrant vs drug lord triggered Marawi siege

Philippines Dictator Rodrigo Duterte

By Ian Nicolas Cigaral

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday claimed that the deadly Marawi siege, which has dragged on since May, erupted after security forces served a warrant of arrest on a drug lord operating there.

“The Marawi war was ignited by the service of a summon and a warrant of arrest of one of the drug lords there,” Duterte said in his speech during the 56th anniversary of the Philippine Constitution Association.

“There was a firefight and that started the rebellion. And I was really aghast to know that until now, they have so many bullets, ordnance and everything that the fight is still going on,” he added.

The president's claim runs counter to what security forces have been saying since hostilities in the city began months ago.

According to the military, a failed attempt by government troops to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon in Marawi on May 23 triggered the battle against the Maute group, homegrown jihadist militants who claim allegiance with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and backed by some foreign fighters.

"A firefight ensued and our troops reacted properly, but as of tonight, in the Philippines, the Maute group burned several facilities (in the city)," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a briefing from Moscow the night of the attacks.

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News Story: Philippine military to send more soldiers to Marawi

MANILA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- More government troops will be deployed to Marawi City, adding to about 5,000 soldiers already involved in the prolonged fight to liberate the city from the Daesh-inspired Maute Group, a Philippine military official in charge of local operations said on Monday.

"We have more forces coming in. We have identified some gaps. We are making sure that those gaps, especially in the (Lanao) lake will be patched up," Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez told a press briefing in Marawi City.

Galvez refused to disclose the number of personnel who will be sent to fight the Maute Group and when they will be arriving at the city.

The armed conflict, which broke out on May 23, has resulted in the death of 695 Maute members, 151 soldiers and policemen and 47 civilians, with all the residents fleeing the city.

On Sunday, Philippine military officials were able to cross two bridges that were recently retaken by government troops from the terror group for the first time since conflict erupted, leaving only a size of about 10 hectares with about 300 structures to be cleared.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: (Philippines) Generals cross Marawi bridges

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

By Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time since the conflict started four months ago, ranking officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines crossed two bridges in Marawi City’s main battle area yesterday as troops moved closer to ending the fight with the Maute terrorist group.

Major Generals Rolando Bautista and Danilo Pamonag, commanders of the Joint Task Force Marawi and Joint Special Operations Task Force Trident, respectively, passed through the Bayabao and Masiu bridges.

The AFP said the bridges were recently recovered and controlled by government forces from the Maute group that placed the Islamic city under siege.

Both commanders were met by Brig. Gen. Melquiades Ordiales, commander of the Joint Task Group Tiger.

Bautista said the act of crossing the bridges showed the significant progress in the effort of the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to defeat the enemy, rescue the hostages and regain control of the city.

“The terrorists are now becoming desperate as our soldiers and police are closing in on their defensive positions. We are continuing our appeal to the terrorists to release their hostages and… surrender,” he said.

During his fifth visit to Marawi City last Sept. 21, President Duterte said “the end of the combat operation is just around the corner.”

The commander-in-chief and the AFP gave assurance that once the firefight is over, the daunting task of rehabilitation will proceed in full blast.

Read the full story at PhilStar

Related Story: 

• Palace says retaking of Marawi's Masiu bridge 'a significant development'

News Story: Battle to free Marawi in Philippines continues, enters fifth month

MANILA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Bullets continue to fly and rocket bombs continue to explode in Marawi as the military offensive to completely retake the southern Philippine city from Islamic State (IS)-inspired extremists entered its fifth month.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the pro-IS Maute militants managed to prepare sufficient caches of bombs, high-powered firearms and ammunition to fight the government security forces even before they laid siege to Marawi on May 23.

"The Maute was really preparing for a long-haul (fight). Until now, they never run out of ordnance, explosives, ammunition, and all. I really do not know the extent now of the contamination," Duterte told reporters in his home city of Davao late Friday.

He said local politicians who are into drug trafficking funded the war in Marawi. He showed a new diagram of politicians and people who are allegedly linked to illegal drug trade.

To date, he said "hundreds" of soldiers and policemen have been killed in drug-related encounters.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Esperon - Maute fighters confined to area near Lake Lanao

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte

By Audrey Morallo

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte's most recent visit to Marawi City was an indication that the crisis may soon be over, his national security adviser said, as the main fighting area shrinks further to areas near Lake Lanao.

Duterte went to Marawi City on Thursday to visit troops who have been battling Islamist militants for 123 days now. The visit happened while massive protests were held in the capital over Duterte's alleged complicity in drug-related killings as well as for the commemoration of the 45th year since martial law was declared in the Philippines by ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Martial law was lifted in 1981. In May, Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao in response to the Marawi siege.

The military has also received information that Isnilon Hapilon, the appointed Southeast Asian emir of the so-called Islamic State, is still in the battle area and has not yet escaped as previously reported, according to Esperon.

Hapilon's Abu Sayyaf faction has merged with the Maute Group to stage the most significant terror event to face Southeast Asia in recent years which has killed hundreds of militants, civilians and security personnel and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents of the lakeside town.

According to Esperon, the recent gains by security forces, including the retaking of a mosque at the heart of the city used as headquarters by the militants' leaders and the rescue of hostages, and the travel by land of Duterte to Marawi were signs of the looming end of the most serious security problem to face the administration of the former Davao City mayor.

He said that he himself has traveled to Marawi by land on two occasions, one in July and another in September, although he was hesitant to allow the president's recent land travel there.

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News Story: 3 Marawi siege leaders dead, 2 still fighting

By Jim Gomez

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine military chief said Monday that three leaders of Islamic State-linked militants who besieged a southern city have been killed in months of fighting but two others, including one of Asia's most wanted terror suspects, were still alive and leading a final stand.

Military chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Ano said about 10 foreign militants, mostly Malaysians and Indonesians, were still fighting together with a few dozen local militants in a lakeside community in Marawi city after a series of battle setbacks.

Ano and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana presented in a news conference a Catholic priest, Father Teresito Soganub, who they said was rescued along with a teacher by troops late Saturday after a mosque used as snipers' post and bomb-making area by the militants fell after a five-hour battle.

"Pray for me for my healing and recovery," said the 51-year-old Soganub, who appeared remarkably healthy with a long, white beard.

He smiled and waved at photographers and TV cameras before being ushered out of a military hall without taking any questions. The priest survived in militant custody through more than three months of daily airstrikes, artillery bombardment and gunfire and, according to Ano, refused to go along with a plan to escape by other hostages.

"No, allow me to die here. I have already accepted my fate," Ano quoted Soganub as telling fellow hostages, who once considered making a dash to freedom out of desperation.

At least 45 hostages remain in the custody of a few dozen remaining gunmen and efforts to rescue them are underway, he said.

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News Story: No negotiation with terrorists to free Marawi priest, Duterte says

MANILA, Philippines — The freedom of Fr. Chito Suganob, the priest kidnapped by Maute terrorists in Marawi City, was made possible by “special operations” of government forces and not by backdoor talks with militants, President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday.

Duterte maintained that he would never negotiate with the Maute group as he stressed that the offensives against the jihadists would continue “until the last terrorist is taken out.”

“You know, Fr. Suganob, he was not released. He was liberated through special operation… ibig sabihin ginapang yan ng mga Special Forces or yung mga ranger (that means, the Special Forces and rangers maneuvered it),” the president told reporters in Caloocan City.

Asked if backdoor negotiations were held to ensure the safe release of the Catholic priest, Duterte replied: “Impossible. I will not even agree to look at them. You understood what I said before that this will not end until the last terrorist is taken out.”  

“That is my order to the Armed Forces and the police: Hanggang yung katapusang tao dun na masama (It will continue until the last terrorist is vanquished),” he added.

Read the full story at PhilStar

Related Story:

• As AFP rescues captive priest, Lorenzana vows to defeat all security threats

News Story: Armed Forces captures key Maute base in besieged Marawi

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

MARAWI, Philippines (UPDATED 6 p.m.) — The Philippine military said Sunday it had captured the command center of ISIS group supporters who have besieged Marawi City for nearly four months.

Security forces have engaged in ferocious street-to-street combat and launched airstrikes in their efforts to expel the fighters from Marawi, in a battle that has left 800 dead and raised fears that ISIS is looking to establish a Southeast Asian base in the Philippines.

The military said it had captured the militants' control center in a deadly battle lasting five hours that began Saturday in a mosque and another building.

It added that they have subdued the militants and successfully took back Bato Mosque and Amaitul Islamiya Marawi Foundation, which became Maute strongholds.

"This enormous (military) gain further weakened the terrorist group by denying them their erstwhile command and control hub," military chief General Eduardo Año said in a statement.

"As follow up and clearing operations continue, we expect the enemy to yield more previously occupied positions, but not without a fight," he said. "We are ready for that."

Read the full story at PhilStar

Related Stories:

• Palace refuses to comment on latest Marawi developments to avoid 'jeopardy'
• Marawi bishop ‘happy’ over rescue of abducted priest
• Priest rescued as Army captures Maute base

News Story: Duterte visits war-torn Marawi anew to boost morale of troops

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plays soldier (File Photo)

MANILA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday visited war-torn Marawi City to boost the morale of troops involved in the ongoing efforts to liberate the city from the clutches of the Islamic State-inspired extremists.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the military's Western Mindanao Command and Joint Task Force Marawi, said the president arrived at conflict area at around 3:00 p.m. and left an hour and a half later.

Clad in an camouflage upper garment, a military cap and gray civilian pants, Duterte was accompanied by several security officials, including Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Eduardo Ano.

Petinglay said Duterte went to the main battle area "to inform the soldiers that he is with us in this fight."

The president's visit to the city, his fourth since clashes between state troops and the extremists erupted in May, came as Presidential Palace Malacanang on Monday said the rebellion in the city was already "in its last miles."

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Duterte threatens martial law if Reds take to streets

New People’s Army (NPA)

By Alexis Romero

MANILA, Philippines —  He once called the policy “stupid,” but President Duterte has floated anew the possibility of declaring martial law in the entire country, saying he may be forced to do so if communist rebels bring their armed struggle to the streets.

Duterte said while he allows leftists to hold meetings and rallies, he would not think twice about arresting those who would cause infighting.

“They are not hiding. Their meetings are in public. I just let them be. Even their leftist organizations are holding meetings. I said let them be. But do not commit the mistake,” the President told reporters in Cagayan de Oro last Saturday.

“I am not scaring you. Do not commit the mistake of staging a rebellion, say that there is fighting in the streets. I will not hesitate to impose martial law all throughout the country and order the arrest of everybody,” he added.

Duterte placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law on May 23 after Islamic State-inspired terrorists from the Maute group laid siege to Marawi City.

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News Story: Rody ready to extend Marawi operations to save hostages

President Duterte plays soldier in Marawi City

By Alexis Romero and Edith Regalado

MANILA, Philippines —  President Duterte is ready to extend the operations in Marawi City by one year if it would mean saving even just one of those who are being held hostage by Maute militants.

 Duterte said launching a full assault on the mosque that serves as the last stronghold of the terrorists would offend Muslims and place the lives of the captives in danger. 

 “If you destroy that, you’d have wounded the feelings of the entire Muslim world… The moment they rush up there, there will be clashes, and the captives will be beheaded. These are terrorists,” he told reporters in Cagayan de Oro last Saturday. 

 Duterte said he is not setting a timetable for the operations in Marawi but admitted that the siege has to end. 

 “If they say ‘Well, we need another six months,’ then we’ll just have to wait it out,” the President said, referring to government forces.

“If I can save one life there, I am willing to wait one year. If I save one life, that is the job of the soldier, then, they just surround the place and camp there until kingdom come if it could save a life,” he added. 

  More than 800 people have died since the Maute terrorists, which have professed loyalty to international extremist group Islamic State, laid siege to Marawi City last May 23.

The terrorist attacks prompted Duterte to place the entire island of Mindanao under martial law.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Australia to send more troops to Philippines vs terrorists

By Jaime Laude

MANILA, Philippines — Visiting Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne disclosed on Friday that Australia would send troops to assist Philippine forces in the ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS)-inspired terrorists in Marawi City.

Small contingents of Australian soldiers will be sent to train Filipino troops, Payne said during a press conference with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

“We are very committed to supporting the Philippines in its efforts to defend itself against terrorist threats,” Payne said.

“This is a threat to the region (that) we all need to work together to defeat.”

Lorenzana welcomed the offer of Australia to train Filipino soldiers to combat terrorism.

“I think it doesn’t matter really if they give us those token force but the effect of the kind of help that they give us is enormous. I think that’s what we need to talk about…bigger involvement or support from Australia,” Lorenzana said.

But he stressed that when the Australian soldiers are in the country, they will be staying inside military camps and will not be allowed to engage in actual fighting.

Payne and Lorenzana discussed various security issues in the region, including the brewing tension brought about by the threat from North Korea and the ongoing terrorist atrocities in Marawi City.

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News Story: Philippine military says terrorist leaders' 5 brothers dead in Marawi city fighting

MANILA, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine military said on Friday they believe five other Maute brothers are dead besides one of the leaders, Abdullah Maute, was reportedly dead earlier, leaving only Omar Maute directing the fight in Marawi City on Mindanao island.

The fighting between tthe Philippine government and Islamist extremist Maute Group under the leadership of two Maute brothers, who have pledged to IS, has left 653 terrorists and 145 soldiers killed to date since its beginning on May, 23.

"To our knowledge, 7 siblings are involved in the group....They have reason to believe that only one of the Maute brothers remains in the fight, and this is Omar. The rest are believed to have been killed," military spokesperson Restituto Padilla said in a briefing in Manila, noting the report comes from Western Mindanao Command.

He added that before a categorical statement can be issued, Maute brothers' bodies need recovering and subjecting to DNA testing as the military made this announcement based on their intelligence.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: China proposes joint counterterror drills with Philippines

By Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philippines —  China is seeking to conduct joint military exercises with the Philippines to combat terrorism.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua relayed China’s proposal for training with the country’s special forces.

Arevalo told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday that China’s proposal was made after its P5-million donation for the benefit of soldiers fighting the Maute group in Marawi City.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Report: Philippines Government Will Kill Women, Children Fighting for Daesh

As government forces in the Philippines prepare for their final effort to liberate Marawi City from extremists, top military officials announced Tuesday that women and children fighting on the side of Maute, a Daesh-linked extremist group, will be killed if they do not surrender.

Both Armed Forces Chief Eduardo Ano and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana agreed that the militants, who they say now number less than 50, are running out of food and ammunition, and as such Marawi should be retaken "within the month."

According to Ano, killing women and children fighters is necessary because "they’re shooting back and they are also inflicting injuries to our people," the Manila Times reports.

Despite Maute’s small size and limited resources, neutralizing the group won’t be easy, the defense chief said, as "hardcore" leader Isnilon Hapilon will likely continue to fight as long as he possibly can.

"We don’t see that these people will surrender," Ano said. "To their followers we appeal to them to surrender now because they will die there."

News Story: Philippine general claims leader of Marawi siege dead

MANILA. Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Philippine military general said on Monday that one of the leaders of the Islamist extremist Maute group that attacked the southern Philippine city of Marawi has been killed in the fire fighting to retake the city.

Citing information culled from social media. Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, the commanding general of the military's Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the military believes that Abdullah Maute is already killed.

"Abdullah Maute is already killed. Chatter over Telegram indicates he is killed," Galvez told a news conference in Marawi City. He said the information is based on entries in the Arabic language on Telegram.

Galvez also said that Maute's brother, Omarkhayam, is still alive.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: ‘Marawi crisis a stalemate’

By Edith Regaladoa and Alexis Romero

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  – Three months after Maute terrorists laid siege to Marawi, the crisis in the city has reached a “stalemate,” according to President Duterte.

“It is a stalemate now because of my asking the military to slow down,” Duterte, likening the situation to a chess game, said at the birthday party of Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles late Saturday.

Duterte said the stalemate was brought about by his advice to the Armed Forces to go slow in the assault on the terrorists who are holding several civilian hostages.

The President said that no matter how easy it would seem to bomb the mosques in the city to finally end the crisis, still his sensitivities to the Muslim community prevailed upon him never to do it.

“I told the top (military) echelons, take it easy, we cannot destroy the mosque, because that will forever… spawn hatred from the Muslim community,” he said.

Duterte said he finally gave the military the discretion on how to end the fighting in Marawi City.

Duterte said his decision allowing the military to attack is a heavy responsibility he has to bear.

Read the full story at PhilStar

Related Story:

• Palace: Isnilon Hapilon 'still very much in Marawi'

News Story: Phl, Malaysia, Indonesia eye joint border counter-terror patrols

By Alexis Romero 

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are eyeing a joint task force against security threats and may open their borders to each other to chase terrorists and other armed groups, President Duterte said. 

Duterte said he would meet with Indonesia President Joko Widodo and Malaysia President Najib Razak to thresh out the details of the border cooperation deal. 

“We have agreed that we will talk… the three of us… We are just waiting for the right timing,” the President told journalists in Davao City Saturday night. 

“In all probability, it will be like a joint task force. And I will open my borders to the Malaysian authorities and Indonesian authorities, and… they’ll be given access.

“If we are chasing someone and there is no more time, we can hit him. Even if he’s a Filipino, we can tell them ‘hit him’ or Indonesian here, we can hit him,” he added. 

Duterte said the meeting may be held near the Philippine shore, in Sabah or in Jakarta. 

Read the full story at PhilStar