Inihayag ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na patuloy nitong sinisikap na makumpirma ang balitang patay na ang Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader na si Isnilon Hapilon.
Sa press briefing sa Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, sinabi ni AFP Spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla na batay sa huling intelligence reports na natanggap ng militar, nananatiling malubha ang lagay ng sugatang si Hapilon, 50, at nangangailangan ito ng agarang gamutan.
Sinabi rin ni Padilla na nananatili pa rin sa 15 ang napapatay na terorista sa matinding opensiba ng militar sa Butig, Lanao del Sur.
“The latest report we received showed that the death toll remains at 15 terrorist killed, including an Indonesian terrorist, with eight wounded including Isnilon Hapilon who is included in the high-value individuals which we are after,” sabi ni Padilla.
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“The information that we got is that he (Hapilon) is wounded and needs medical attention. But if he is already dead or still alive, that’s what we’re trying to find out as of this time,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi rin ni Padilla na batay sa mga huling report na natanggap nila ay tatlong kampo na ng mga terorista ang nakubkob ng militar.
“The encampments were in the same areas that were attacked and we believe these terrorists have been harboring,” sabi ni Padilla. “When I say camps it doesn’t mean they are big ones. It could be just a small one which they use as a hideout. So there were three camps that were reached and scoured by our troops but the result of which we don’t have.”
Aniya, nasa 100-150 miyembro ng Abu Sayyaf at Maute terror group ang tinutugis ng militar sa Butig.
(Francis T. Wakefield)
