Duterte: Marawi liberated from IS-linked militants : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Duterte: Marawi liberated from IS-linked militants

MANILA:Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared the southern city of Marawi liberated from pro-Islamic State militants on Tuesday, although the military said 20-30 rebels were holding about 20 hostages and still fighting it out.

Duterte: Marawi liberated from IS-linked militants

Man of the moment: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (C) poses for a picture with women soldiers during his visit at Bangolo town in Marawi city, southern Philippines, on Tuesday. Reuters



Manila, October 17 

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared the southern city of Marawi liberated from pro-Islamic State militants on Tuesday, although the military said 20-30 rebels were holding about 20 hostages and still fighting it out.

In a rousing address to soldiers a day after the killing of two commanders of the rebel alliance, Duterte said he would never again allow militants to stockpile so many weapons, but Marawi was now free and it was time to heal wounds and rebuild.

“I hereby declare Marawi City liberated from terrorist influence, that marks the beginning of rehabilitation,” Duterte, wearing a camouflage cap and dark sunglasses, said during his unannounced visit.

Isnilon Hapilon, who was wanted by the United States and was Islamic State’s Southeast Asian “emir”, and Omarkhayam Maute, one of two brothers central to the alliance, were killed in a targeted operation on Monday. Their bodies were recovered and identified.

Duterte said the liberation was not a cause for celebration and later apologised to the people of Marawi for the destruction.

Armed forces chief Eduardo Ano said the remaining gunmen were now a “law enforcement matter”, while military spokesman Restituto Padilla described them as “stragglers”.

Padilla said the military believed Malaysian operative Mahmud Ahmad was in Marawi, but it could not be certain. He said Mahmud was no threat. “Dr. Mahmud is an academic, he’s not a fighter,” Padilla said. “We don’t feel he is a problem.” — Reuters

Top News

Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary Bibhav Kumar accused of assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal detained

Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary Bibhav Kumar, accused of assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal, arrested

Kumar was first detained from the chief minister's residence...

AAP releases Swati Maliwal's new video walking out of Arvind Kejriwal's residence

AAP releases new video showing Swati Maliwal walking out of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence

In her FIR, Maliwal had alleged that she was assaulted by Bi...

Swati Maliwal has bruises over her left leg and her right cheek, says medical report

Swati Maliwal's AIIMS medical report shows bruises over her left leg and her right cheek

Medical report says Swati had a bruise of size of 3x2 cm ove...

8 burnt to death as bus carrying devotees from Punjab catches fire near Haryans’a Nuh

9 burnt to death as bus carrying devotees from Punjab catches fire near Tauru in Haryana

Devotees were returning from pilgrimage to Mathura and Vrind...


Cities

View All