Hatamanand Islamic militants plot bigger offensive before Marawi siege

COTABATO CITY –
The terrorist group Dawla Islamiya (Islamic State) was planning a bigger
offensive but the plot was preempted by government forces when it served
warrant of arrest against Isnilon Hapilon of Abu Sayyaf, a regional official
today said.

Hapilon, the
recognized leader of ISIS in the Philippines, was in one of the populated district
of Marawi City when the military and police learned of his presence there.

I think the
group was planning a bigger offensive but when their location was traced by the
military, they resorted to violence in Marawi, Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman of
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Citing
information he received after the Regional Crisis Management meeting Wednesday,
Hataman said the group comprised of Maute Terror Group and Abu Sayyaf Group was
plotting bigger and bloody offensives but was bungled with a law enforcement
operation Tuesday afternoon.

If they were
not raided Tuesday where they were on the defensive, it would have been worst,
Hataman told a news conference in Filipino.

Hataman said
all out support should be given to President Duterte who vowed to crush the
extremists in Mindanao.

Hataman said
the group freed some of their comrades in arms who were detained at Marawi City
jail and Lanao del Sur provincial jail.

Hataman also
confirmed the death of Police Senior Inspector Freddie M. Solar, the
intelligence chief of Marawi City PNP who was shot dead in front of Amai Pakpak
Medical Center.

Half of the
more than 217,000 population of Marawi City have fled either to Iligan City or
to the coastal towns of Lanao del Sur, particularly Kapatagan and Malabang.

Hataman said
the regional government has asked the administration of Mindanao State
University (MSU) to open its door for evacuees and the regional government will
take care of food supplies. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)