Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao


nsnbc : Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao on Tuesday due to terrorist attacks carried out by the Islamic State linked Maute terror group in Marawi City.

Philippines_May 2017_Isnilon HapilonPresidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that Duterte, Tuesday evening local time, conferred with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go on the declaration of martial law in southern Philippines due to attacks carried out by ISIS-backed Maute terror group in Marawi City.

In an interview in the capital Manila, Secretary Delfin Lorenzana from the Department of National Defense (DND) told the press that the confrontation in Marawi City is focused on neutralizing Isnilon Hapilon, the former leader of the kidnap for ranson Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) which had pledged allegiance to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).

Hapilon was believed wounded when the military bombed his hideout in Lanao del Sur last January. Lorenza said “They are already there. In fact the leader in Basilan, Isnilon Hapilon, is actually, I think, he is the anointed leader of the group there”. He added that Hapilon transferred to central Mindanao and organized the Maute Group.

The National Defense Department chief said “We were able to find out that he was there so we found where he was hiding, so we bomb, but unfortunately he wasn’t taken. He was wounded. And he kept dodging our operations”.

The clash between security forces and the insurgents occurred Tuesday afternoon in Marawi City as the military received information that Hapilon is hiding in the area. Lorenza added “Until now, there’s an ongoing fight in Marawi City because the army found out where he was hiding. So hopefully, it will result to a good score for the military.”

F/AK – nsnbc 23.05.2017



Source Article from https://nsnbc.me/2017/05/23/duterte-declares-martial-law-in-mindanao/

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