Ekip
17 October 2017•Update: 18 October 2017
By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
The killing of two key leaders of terrorist groups in Marawi will seriously set back efforts by Daesh to expand in Southeast Asia, the head of the Philippine military said Monday
According to Philippine Armed Forces Chief Eduardo Ano, the death of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Maute terror group leader Omar Khayyam Maute will impact the expansion of militant groups in other places besides war-ravaged Marawi city in the south.
"It will blunt such efforts to project a strong, growing presence," he told reporters at a press briefing hours after Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that government troops had killed the top Marawi siege leaders.
Hapilon, who had a $5 million bounty on his head from Washington, had been appointed by Daesh as its emir or leader for the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
Following his appointment, Hapilon, based in Basilan, combined his terror unit with the Maute Group in central Mindanao.
President Rodrigo Duterte also offered PHP10 million ($195,000) for Hapilon's capture – dead or alive – while he offered a reward of PHP5 million ($97,000) for Maute and his siblings, Abdullah and Madie, who were killed earlier in the Marawi main battle area.
Security officials believe Hapilon’s death is significant, considering he was the uniting factor in Marawi, and that the blow to the international terror network is also serious, especially since the he was named by Daesh as emir of Southeast Asia.
Ano added with Hapilon and Maute dead, the equation may change.
“If they cannot find another leader immediately…what will happen, since they are leaderless, (is that) a lot of followers will abandon the movement".
The military plans to target the Abu Sayyaf group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters once the Marawi crisis ends in a bid to end terrorism in Mindanao.
Hapilon and Maute were killed in action 147 days into the Marawi crisis. Less than eight of their foreign companions, including Malaysians and Indonesians, are left on the battlefield backing the remaining Maute and Abu Sayyaf fighters.
Ano said troops are focused on rescuing the remaining hostages, which number around 22. There are also an estimated 30 relatives of the Mautes considered as struggling as they no longer have leaders and are on their own.
As of October 16, the military reported that 824 terrorists had been killed, 827 firearms were recovered and 1,771 hostages were rescued. On the part of the government, 162 soldiers were killed and 1,000 others were wounded in action.
