By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent
MARAWI City — It took only four bullets to finish off the top leaders of the terrorist group blamed for the raging conflict that resulted in the destruction of this predominantly Muslim city.
A sniper headshot killed Omarkhayam Maute, one of the leaders of the Isis-inspired Maute terror group who led a five-month siege here.
Three bullets to the chest did Isnilon Hapilon in while he was trying to escape. He was referred to as the “emir of the Isis in Southeast Asia.”
The four bullets started the countdown to the end of the over five-month crisis that displaced thousands of Marawi families since May 23.
Officials said Hapilon and Maute were killed along with eight of their followers as they tried to escape to another building to avoid an assault by Armed Forces’ Special Forces and National Police Special Action Force units at dawn Monday.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Eduardo Ano told a press briefing at Kampo Ranao, headquarters of the Army 103rd Infantry Brigade, that Omar was the last of the dreaded Maute brothers.
Ano said eight other gunmen were killed with Hapilon and Maute as they made a dash to another building to escape the attacking troops.
He said the troops were able to rescue 20 hostages, including a two-month old baby girl.
Ano said Hapilon and Maute tried to escape the encirclement and prepared several bancas. He said the attempt failed.
According to Ano, Hapilon had offered a huge amount of money for anyone who can get them out.
“No help came,” Ano narrated.
On Monday night, Special Forces teams moved into the building under the cover of heavy rain.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the death of the two terrorist leaders meant that the fighting is almost over, and the government would announce the termination of hostilities “in a couple of days.”
He said the announcement would be “within the week.”
The termination of hostilities would be announced “once government forces have ensured that there are no more terrorists-stragglers in the city and we have cleared all structures of IEDs and other traps.”
“After the fighting stops, we will refocus our efforts on the challenging task of rebuilding and rheabilitating Marawi,” he said.
But Lorenzana said that even as Hapilon and Maute are dead, the terrorists still have cells in Basilan, Sulu, also in Central Mindanao, “but we will also get them.”
Lorenzana said the first contact with the terrorists came past 3 am but the troops who were equipped with night vision goggles gained the upper hand.
Seeing they were about to be surrounded, Hapilon and Maute got out from the building and dashed to another building at the back.
They were met however by troops supported by an M113A2 armoured personnel carrier which was equipped with a remote controlled weapons system that can see through the dark.
Ano said Maute was shot by a sniper while Hapilon was killed with three bullets on his chest.
He said Hapilon, who was armed with a R4 rifle with optics, died fighting.
Maute was armed with an M4 rifle, Ano said.
“We will not allow terrorism to reign in Marawi City or elsewhere in the country,” Ano said.
Maute and Hapilon were to be given proper Muslim burials after DNA tests.
Lorenzana said the DNA tests were important since Hapilon had a US$5-million bounty offered by the US government for the kidnapping of American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham in 2001.
The Rewards for Justice Program of the US Department of State has placed a reward of up to US$5 million (approximately P256 million) “for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction” of Hapilon. He was indicted in the District of Columbia for his alleged involvement in terrorist acts against Americans and other foreign nationals as an official of the Abu Sayyaf which is listed as a foreign terrorist organization.
President Duterte in early June offered a P10 million bounty on Hapilon, and the P5 million each for the Maute brothers, Abdullah and Omar.
Lorenzana said it was the information provided by a young hostage who was rescued on Saturday that allowed the troops to locate the hostages and the gunmen.
“The troops suspected the building but it was the information provided that we were able to ascertain where they were hiding,” Lorenzana said.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, a firefight was ongoing to free the remaining 22 hostages still being held by 30 gunmen, including six foreign fighters. (with carolyn o. arguillas of mindanews)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
