Leadership of Islamic State-linked fighters in Marawi remains largely intact, according to President Duterte
A letter from the president aimed to convince lawmakers to extend his 60-day declaration of martial law in the south
The Philippine president said the leadership of Islamic State-linked militants who have laid siege to a southern city remains largely intact despite nearly two months of military action and has funded diversionary attacks on other cities in the region.
President Rodrigo Duterte said in a letter to Congress that even though troops had regained control of much of Marawi city and killed hundreds of militants, “the rebellion persists and a lot more remains to be done to completely quell the same”.
In a separate report to the Senate, the military said the attackers’ main leader, Isnilon Hapilon, “allowed the escape of 96 young recruits fighting in Marawi and instructed them to continue jihad outside Marawi”. Jihad is an Arabic word that militants use to refer to “holy war”.