27 May, 2017
He defended his proclamation of martial law in Mindanao, saying it was necessary to root out the militants who attacked Marawi on Tuesday, burning buildings and taking some dozen hostages. He also heads an alliance of at least 10 smaller militant groups, including the Maute, which have a heavy presence in Marawi and were instrumental in fighting off government forces in this week's battles.
"They had notified local authorities about their activities, including Philippine police and military authorities by submitting an official letter from the AbuBakr As-Siddiq Mosque", he said.
(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez). Teachers who were trapped in the siege by Muslim militants of Marawi city comfort each other as they wait for their transport back to their hometowns in southern Philippines for the third day Thursday, May 25, 2017.
Malabang Police Chief Romeo Enriquez told The Associated on Friday that he is fine.
Philippine government forces launched "precision attacks" Thursday to clear militants linked to the Islamic State group from a southern city that has been under siege since a raid to capture a militant on the US list of most-wanted terrorists failed.
Not bombing, but "surgical airstrikes with pinpoint accuracy" was how Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla described their operations against terrorist group Maute in Marawi City.
"When the clashes occurred, they were immediately evacuated to another mosque near a police office", Agung said.
The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) has expressed serious concerns about the declaration of martial law on Tuesday in Mindanao in southern Philippines by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Around 100 militants moved through the southern Philippines city of Marawi on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hapilon was the target of Tuesday's botched raid and Duterte said Islamic State in the Middle East had anointed him as its man in the Philippines, and Hapilon was revered as its leader. The measures under martial law will apply the entire island, affecting almost 21 million people, and will include curfews, the establishment of checkpoints and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.
Military helicopters flew above the Marawi rooftops as armored tanks rolled through its neighborhoods amid sporadic gunfire and explosions. He has repeatedly threatened to place the south, the scene of decades-long Muslim separatist uprisings, under martial law. Rebel fighters torched churches and schools, freed over one hundred inmates from two local prisons, and took hostages.
Martial law applies for an initial 60 days under the constitution, but that could be shortened or lengthened depending on security considerations, Alvarez said. Protest leader Teddy Casino warned that there might be more extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. "You can arrest any person, search any house without warrant", said Duterte, who has been criticized for the deaths of thousands of people in a crackdown on illegal drugs.
Thousands of people were fleeing the city on Thursday, jamming their belongings into cars. The US regards Hapilon as one of the most unsafe terrorists in the world, offering $5 million for his capture.
In moving to take Mr Hapilon, the government underestimated the militants' strength, and the raid went awry.
Duterte is reportedly set to visit wounded government troopers who are confined at the Sanitarium General Hospital in Iligan City.
