COTABATO CITY, Philippines -
Founding leaders of Maute Terrorist Group fighting the government forces, Omar
and Mhade Maute, were killed in the ongoing military offensives in Marawi City,
the Army today said.
This according to Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, Joint Task Force Marawi
spokesperson, during a news conference Saturday afternoon.
“We are validating this information but that is the report,” Herrera
said.
Herrera said the local government of Masiu and civilians helped in the
arrest of Farhana Maute, mother of siblings Abdul, Omar and Mhade Maute on
Friday night.
Mhade was the one arguing with Abdulah Maute in a video, showing how
they prepared the plan to invade Marawi City.
To date, a total of 58 government forces have been killed in the
operation against ISIS linked Maute. The latest were 13 members of Philippine
Marines, Herrera said.
One of the fatalities was 1st Lt. Sevillano, a Marine company
commander, of Marine unit that recovered PHP52 million cash and firearms of
Maute.
Twelve other Marines were killed during Friday’s skirmishes, Herrera
said.
“We are on the offensive mode, we are constantly moving toward the
position of enemies, unfortunately we incurred several casualties, we are doing
our best to re-strategize,” he said.
“The enemy has strong defensive positions, maximize presence of high
structure buildings and civilian hostages used as human shields,” he added.
“We are making adjustments in our offensives,” he said, adding that air
strikes were effective in the operations.
“We hit the logistical hubs, several command and control and
communications and snipers’ nest of Maute,” Herrera said.
“We have so many head ways, we are close to their exact positions,
lumalakas and firefight,” the official said. (EOF/PNA)
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