ARMED Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año yesterday confirmed the death of Abdullah Maute, a leader of the Maute Group that attacked Marawi City in May, and two of his brothers.
The confirmation was made at a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo where rescued Maute hostage Fr. Teresito “Chito” Suganob was presented.
The 51-year-old Suganob was vicar general of the prelate of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Marawi City when he was taken hostage by the Maute along with numerous other Marawi residents. He was rescued Saturday night during a firefight with the terrorists. The cathedral had been desecrated.
Clad in a blue jacket, Suganob gave a brief statement before being ushered out of a conference room. “To all, thank you and I pray for you. God bless you all. Pray for me, for my healing, recovery.”
Asked how he was doing, the priest said, “Physically strong, handsome.”
President Duterte said Suganob “was liberated through a special operation” and no negotiation with the Maute was conducted for the priest’s freedom.
He also said that when he gets the chance to talk to Suganob, he would ask how the Maute treated the hostages, especially the women.
He noted media reports quoting the women hostages who have escaped as saying they were abused and raped every day.
“That’s a gross violation of the rights of a human being, affront of the dignity of the women of the Philippines,” he said.
Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said there are about 60 to 80 hostages still held by the Maute which attacked Marawi on May 23.
Año said confirmation on the death of brothers Abdullah, Maddie, and Otto Maute came from various sources, including accounts from one Maute member who has surrendered and three other terrorists who have been captured.
Año did not say the circumstances of their deaths but previous reports said Abdullah died in an air strike in the conflict area.
“Based on the custodial debriefing of those captured and who surrendered, it’s only Omar who is alive. Abdullah, Maddie and Otto are reported dead. There are other Maute siblings who are not that prominent inside (Marawi City) but we feel they are not significant,” said Año.
Pressed if the death of the three Maute brothers is already validated, Año said: “Yes, I believe.”
“There are two main groups now left (in Marawi). One is led by Hapilon and mostly this is composed of those who came from Basilan and the group led by Omar Maute,” he said.
Omar Maute is among those believed to have attacked Marawi. Isnilon Hapilon is a senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf, who has reportedly been named Southeast Asia leader of the Islamic State to which both Abu Sayyaf and the Maute have pledged allegiance.
Recent military estimates said there are about 50 Maute remnants. Año said remnants include about 10 foreign fighters, mostly Malaysians and Indonesians.
Since the fighting broke out last May 23, 673 Maute men have been killed, together with 149 soldiers and policemen and 47 civilians.
FATE ACCEPTED
Año, who presented Suganob together with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, said the priest thought he would die in captivity.
“There was an instance when we told Father, ‘Father, we’ll get you out’ but the Father said, ‘No, let me die here, I already accepted my fate.’ That’s why he couldn’t (believe) when he was rescued last Saturday,” said Año.
Suganob and teacher Lordbin Noblesa Acopio were rescued by soldiers during fierce gun battle with Maute members at the Bato Mosque at around 11:40 p.m. Saturday. Acopio was not presented to media and remained in Marawi.
“As the intensity of the armed confrontation continues to escalate in favor of our troops and while the terrorists were busy repelling the attack, the troops had the opportunity to snatch Fr. Chito and Mr. Acopio during the melee,” said Lorenzana.
Año said Suganob’s rescue was actually an intelligence project supported by combat operations. He said the military had planned to extricate Suganob as early as September 13 before assaulting the mosque where he and other hostages were kept.
“But on September 13, September 14 and September 15, there was a change in how the enemy was guarding so we were not able to rescue Fr. Suganob,” said Año.
“I gave the go signal to assault the Bato Mosque so we can implement the extraction of Fr. Soganub while there is fighting. Everything materialized because on Saturday, we were able to gain a foothold in Bato Mosque and extricated Fr. Suganob on the night of September 16,” he said.
Lorenzana said: “Our troops gained the upper hand. The terrorists were forced to withdraw to nearby structures on the periphery of the mosque …Troops had opportunity to snatch Father Chito...”
Año said intelligence information indicated that Suganob was with 25 other hostages at the mosque though the priest said he only saw 12 hostages in the area.
Año said the military delayed the announcement of the rescue because of ongoing efforts to the rescue the other hostages but “public clamor” prompted them to confirm the rescue.
“Under the mosque are an intricate tunnels and secret chambers so we are actually clearing those chambers and there are hostages still there... We have an effort to rescue them also and the other hostages in the other buildings. We will try to do our best to rescue them alive,” said Año.
He said about 45 to 50 hostages remain with the Maute, including the 12 in the mosque’s secret chambers.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/maute-leader-dead-says-afp-chief
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