Malacañang maintains it has kept abreast of the terrorist Maute Group’s moves even before the violent standoff broke loose after security forces moved to serve a warrant of arrest on Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon in Marawi City. But Palace officials say there is an underlying sense of apprehension due to threats by the militants to launch possible attacks during the Islamic holy month Ramadan.
In an audio broadcast attributed to Abdoulhassan al-Mouhajer, said to be a spokesman of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to which the Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf Group have reportedly pledge allegiance, ISIS is said to have praised Maute for its action in Marawi.
Presidential Spokesman Abella addressed a press briefing in Manila, reading from a prepared statement containing words tantalizingly the same as those read in Marawi (1,500 km away) by Joint Task Force Marawi Spokesman Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera; they both said: ‘Enemy resistance continues to dwindle, and enemy-held areas are getting smaller as troops advance.’
But Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said: “If not for the early and decisive action by the military, it [the situation] could have been worse.”
Abella addressed a press briefing in Manila, reading from a prepared statement containing words tantalizingly the same as those read in Marawi (1,500 km away) by Joint Task Force Marawi Spokesman Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera; they both said: “Enemy resistance continues to dwindle, and enemy-held areas are getting smaller as troops advance.”
President Duterte has singled out ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as having specifically “ordered terroristic activities” to be carried out in the Philippines.
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