Manila: Malaysian terrorist killed in Marawi – Duterte

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MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte announced last night that top Malaysian terrorist Mahmud bin Ahmad is dead.

The President confirmed the death of Mahmud at the 43rd Philippine Business Conference in Manila where he was the guest speaker.

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“The other, they said Doc – there were three – Hapilon, Omar, and the Doc. I think he’s an Arab. He was taken this afternoon. And that completes the story,” he said.

Mahmud was believed to have taken over the terrorists in Marawi after the death of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon who was killed Monday along with Omarkhayam Maute, key leaders of the Maute group.

Asked for confirmation of Mahmud’s death, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Major Gen. Restituto Padilla said “yes.”

“Hostages rescued know who he is and reported he was killed last night,” Padilla said.

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Mahmud was among the 20 Islamic State-linked Maute extremists killed in the fighting overnight in Marawi City.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Año earlier said the bodies of the dead militants, including that of Mahmud, were yet to be retrieved from the battle site.

Government troops killed 13 militants in the fierce firefight late Wednesday and seven more were killed early yesterday.

“The process to confirm this with finality, however, is still ongoing. Earlier information regarding this were received from the rescued hostages,” he said.

The troops in Marawi led by Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Ranao, said the ground forces are having difficulty retrieving the bodies of the killed militants.

He said the troops are meeting stiff resistance from the remaining Maute terrorists.

Mahmud, who used the nom de guerre Abu Handzalah, was a close associate of  Maute and Hapilon.

The military said Mahmud had brought together Hapilon and the Maute group and bankrolled the siege of Marawi.

Padilla said six soldiers were slightly injured in the fighting.

Two civilian hostages – a mother and her teenage daughter – were also rescued, he said.

He said the information about Mahmud was based on what the rescued mother and daughter told the military.

Año said the mother and her daughter were rescued in the continuing efforts to clear the main battle area and get the hostages out of harm’s way.

“Our operations to flush out and deal with terrorist stragglers have been continuing relentlessly since yesterday,” he said.

Año said around 20 hostages remain in the main battle area with soldiers doing their best to rescue them with motivation to finish the battle for Marawi.

Padilla said troops discovered that there may be more militant fighters remaining in a small battle area than earlier estimated.

A security analyst said two more Malaysian extremists in Marawi should be accounted by the military.

Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of Philippine Institute for Peace Violence Terrorism Research, said Malaysians Amin Bacud and Amah Durayne should be located by the troops since they also played vital roles in the siege of Marawi. – Roel Pareño, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jose Rodel Clapano, AP

Courtesy: The Phil Star

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