AFP: No premature declaration of liberation

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

The liberation of Marawi from Islamic State (IS)-inspired terrorists was not prematurely declared despite the presence of scores of militant stragglers in the ruined parts of the city, the military insisted on Friday.

Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the stragglers had no more bearing to the city’s security.

“The declaration of liberation came when [the fighting] died down. The stragglers in the main battle area are leaderless, have no direction, and are merely fighting for survival. They have no impact on the overall security of the place,” he said during the Bangon Marawi briefing in Malacañang.

President Duterte declared the country’s only Islamic city free of terrorists from the Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups on Oct. 17, five months after the fighting started.

Padilla said the Indonesian militant arrested on Wednesday provided the information that 36 of his colleagues were still hiding in the basements of three destroyed buildings and in tunnels next to Lake Lanao.

“We don’t have the exact numbers but based on the revelation of this last foreign national that was captured, he mentioned about 36,” Padilla said

The military was still validating that number, he added.

The AFP spokesperson also said the Indonesian, Muhammad Ilham Syahputra, 23, should be tried for his crimes here even if he was also facing cases in his home country.

Syahputra had claimed involvement in the 2016 terror attacks in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. He claimed to have come to the Philippines on the invitation of Isnilon Hapilon, the slain emir in Southeast Asia of IS.

“We learned from him…that he was involved in bombings in Indonesia…But since he has cases here, he must be tried under our jurisdiction. He should be made to answer for his crimes here,” Padilla said.

Syahputra has been charged with rebellion, illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and committing crimes against humanity before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office.

In case Indonesian authorities would seek Syahputra’s extradition, Padilla said it would be up to the Department of Justice to decide on the matter.

Civilians were still being prevented from returning to certain parts of the city because of the presence of the terrorist stragglers and improvised explosive devices, he said.

“The reason why we’re trying to restrict that area is to ensure that not one of these terrorists is able to escape because one terrorist who is able to escape has the potential to inflict harm on many of our nationals,” he said.

Assistant Secretary Kristoffer Purisima, spokesperson for Task Force Bangon Marawi, said they expected the return of displaced Marawi residents in nine out of 96 barangays to be completed on Saturday.