Mindanao Hour Press Briefing by PCOO Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag with Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr.
Kalayaan Hall, Malacañan Palace
28 June 2017

ASEC. BANAAG: Good morning, Rocky, good morning, Spokesperson Padilla. Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat and welcome to the Mindanao Hour.

Insofar as the situation in Marawi, as of 6 p.m. of June 27, 2017:

Civilians killed by terrorists are at 27.

And I’d like to make a correction. The typographical error which was reported yesterday na instead of 1,701, ang naibigay po kahapon is 1,801. But as of today, civilians rescued is at 1,711.

And terrorists killed is 299.

Recovered firearms is 358.

And government casualties or government troops killed-in-action at 71.

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We wish to reiterate that government’s policy not to negotiate with terrorists remains. Hence, any demands made inside Marawi holds no basis.

Let us continue to remind the public that the gravity of their terrorists’ offense is immense and they must all be held accountable for all their actions.

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As of 6 p.m., yesterday, these are the significant developments:

Offensive operations resumed and our troops continued sectoral clearing — ongoing clearing. 

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And still, as of 6 p.m. of yesterday, these are the focus of Marawi military operations:

1) Continues clearing of Marawi of remaining armed terrorist that continue to pose pockets of resistance to the advancing troops; 

2) Continue rescue of trapped residents to include those held hostages;

3) Continue recovery of civilian casualties and victims;

4) Assist the LGU, civil society organizations, non-government organizations on relief operations;

5) Prepare to assist Government/LGUs for the rehabilitation, reconstruction, rebuilding phase as soon as the rebellion is quelled. The JTG Ranao was formed to focus on this.

General Eduardo Año, the Chief of Staff of the AFP, reiterates that the AFP is prepared to embark on other key tasks such as rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi and has ordered the identified engineering units to be ready for the next phase of helping build back Marawi.

As such, the AFP has prepared the Combat Engineering Brigades from the Army and the Navy for immediate deployment as soon as the clearing operations are completed. 

The Joint Task Force Ranao will lead efforts in this phase.

The AFP remains committed to the decisive resolution of this rebellion to ensure that the Maute-Daesh/ISIS terrorist rebels and their supporters will not be able to pose a threat in any part of the Philippines.

The support and active participation of LGUs and the citizens will play a key role in ensuring that terrorism shall not thrive in this part of Asia.

Thank you so much.

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Just to reiterate the same points that we have outlined earlier regarding the “No Negotiation Policy.”

We are strictly adhering to this and whatever discussions there may have been inside will not — are not sanctioned as of now.

The efforts that were done last Sunday were primarily aimed at ensuring that the Humanitarian Pause would lead to more civilians rescued from inside Marawi among those who are still trapped.

So ‘yun po ‘yung pakay nung pagkakaroon ng ibinigay na puwang sa putukan noong Linggo sa lugar na ‘yan. Bukod sa ating pakikiisa sa ating mga kapatid na Muslim sa kanilang paggunita ng katapusan ng Ramadan, ng Eid, ito po ay pagbibigay-daan din sa ating peace corridor volunteers na sikaping maka-rescue pa ng mga karagdagang sibilyan na naiiwan sa loob.

At mainam naman po na ‘yung ating puwang na ibinigay na ‘yon ay naging matagumpay dahil may anim na buhay pa po tayong nasagip.

These included a senior — a male senior citizen earlier in the day and five others later on in the afternoon.  

The five consisted of two males and two females and a child. And the recovery of one cadaver, I believe it is the cadaver of an imam who was killed by the enemy.

So these and all comprise one of the significant accomplishments last Sunday in observance of the eight hours, which was extended to 10 hours up to 4 o’clock for the Humanitarian Pause.

So we are ready to take your questions if you have any.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

Benjie Liwanag (DZBB): Sir, once and for all, maraming speculations, maraming reports na lumalabas on Isnilon Hapilon.

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Oh yeah.

Mr. Liwanag: What’s the real score? Kasi kahapon, yesterday ang sabi ni Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, you’re still verifying the report na nakawala na siya sa area ng Marawi. Is this true, General?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Tama po ang ibinigay na pahayag sa inyo ng ating Presidential Spokesman.

At nais lang po namin linawin na hindi po kami maaaring magbigay ng isang categorical statement hangga’t hindi po kami nakakakuha ng maliwanag na katibayan.

And I’d like to take you back a few days ago when there were persistent questions coming from the media about persistent news coming out from Marawi that the brothers Omar and Abdullah and what have you, died. And later on, this got confirmed that they actually didn’t.

So this is the kind of situation we face, that’s why we have to be very careful. Kaya doon po kami nag-iingat.

Kaya kung tayo ay maniniwala sa mga bali-balita at tsismis lamang na nanggagaling sa loob, hindi po maganda ‘yun. Baka makuryente po tayo tulad ng inyong paglalahad ng balita. Kaya iniingatan po natin.

In the case of Hapilon, in answer to your question Benjie, madami na po kaming nakukuhang balita na sinasabing siya ay umalis na sa lugar at nakatakas na at iba pa.

So hangga’t hindi po kami nakakakuha ng katibayan, atin pong sisikapin na kunin itong mga patibay na ‘to. Pero kung saka-sakali pong totoo ito na siya po ay wala na diyan, ito po’y nagpapatibay na naduwag na siya.

It was an act of cowardice if he abandoned his fellow terrorists from inside. And showing that he fled from the battle and left many more of his companions inside would not sit well and may be indicative of an infighting that is occurring among them.

Mr. Liwanag: Sir, next is sabi ninyo si Omar and Abdullah buhay doon sa information na nakuha ninyo. Ito ba ’yung —?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Ang kaso kay Abdullah at kay Omar ay kung ating pagbabasihan ‘yung sinabi ng kanilang mga nakausap daw noong Linggo, sila daw ang kinausap at sila daw ay buhay.

So kung paniniwalaan po natin ‘yan, ‘yun po ‘yung pruweba na nagpapatunay na hindi natin pwedeng sabihin na sila ay patay pero tahimik po sila nang sila ay tanungin tungkol doon sa isa nilang kapatid.

Mr. Liwanag: Paano niyo ire-reconcile na hindi ninyo na pinaniniwalaan o walang kinalaman ‘yung government doon sa pakikipag-usap ng sino man emisaryo para sa Maute? Tapos ngayon, it seems na pinaniniwalaan niyong nakausap nila sa Omar and Abdullah. How would you reconcile that, General?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Ito pong naging pagpasok ng mga religious leaders doon sa loob, ang primary po na pakay nila ay kung maaari i-negotiate pa nila ‘yung pag-rescue sa marami pang naiipit na civilian sa loob.

‘Yun po ang main na kanilang ipinunta doon — na makatulong sa naiipit pang mga kababayan natin sa loob ng Marawi at maaaring iba pa na nasa loob upang mailikas sila. Pero hindi namin batid kung ano man ang ano pang ibang usapan.

So they were actually in fulfillment of the purpose of the peace corridor. If that was their aim and if that was the topic by which they were discussing with the enemy, that’s well and fine because every life saved from inside Marawi, particularly of civilians or innocent civilians who are still trapped there, is relevant. But anything other than that, it is not sanctioned.

Mr. Liwanag: Thank you very much.

Rocky Ignacio (PTV-4): Okay. Allow me to ask this question. Brigadier General Padilla, in case daw totoong nakatakas si Isnilon Hapilon, ‘yung fear na baka makagawa na naman o makapag-mount na naman ng another Marawi?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Unang-una po, inuulit ko, ‘yung pag-alis niya po sa lugar na ‘yon ay senyales ng cowardice or pagiging duwag.

Kasi pagka may bakbakan po, ang pinakamahirap at pinakamasakit na mangyari ay iiwanan ka ng isang kinikilala mong leader at hindi po ginagawa ‘yan.

Tulad ng nangyayari sa isang barko, alam niyo naman po ‘yung kwento na ang kapitan ang huling umaalis ‘pag merong lumulubog na barko upang siguraduhin na ang bawat nakalulan sa barko na ‘yun ay ganap na naligtas. Ganon din po sa mga pagkakataong ito.

Now, ang kapasidad niya na maglunsad ng anumang klaseng panggugulo, hindi po kami naniniwala na kaya pa niya.

Malaki na po ang nangyari na ang mga tumagal ng mga nakaraang linggong ito at ‘yung kapasidad na magsagawa ng kaguluhan, sa scale na nakita natin sa Marawi, hindi na po nila kakayanin ‘yan.

Ms. Ignacio: Pero, sir, paano niyo daw po ire-reconcile ‘yung ganung statement niyo since ang sabi hindi nauubos ang mga bala ng mga kalaban?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Unang-una po, ‘yung nakita niyo pong video ng mga nakaraang linggo ay nagbibigay-patunay sa matagal nang pagpaplano dito.

At isa pa, sa matagal na pagpaplano na ‘yan, napaghandaan po nila ito, nakapag-imbak po sila nang angkop na bilang ng kagamitan, ng armas, at ng bala.

Alam naman po natin na sa itinagal na po – dekada na po ang itinagal ng labanan diyan sa Mindanao. At sa tagal ng mga labanan po na nangyari sa Mindanao, hindi po nalalayo na karamihan po ng kanilang hawak na mga armas at bala ay naipon na sa matagal na panahon na ‘yan at maaaring nadala na nila dito sa loob ng Marawi.

Dahil nga ang binabalak nila ay complete control ng Marawi pagka nakuha nila ito upang ma-establish nila ‘yung tinatawag nilang wilayat bilang parte nung caliphate ng Daesh.

Reymund Tinaza (Bombo Radyo): Hi, sir, just a follow up doon kay Isnilon Hapilon. Sir, the government is claiming that Hapilon is said to be the anointed emir ng ISIS sa Asia region. So how relevant na siya ay makuha whether dead or alive, considering na he’s the parang symbol or the icon of ISIS dito sa Asia region?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: It is important that he’d be caught dead or alive. And it is to the interest of our country, kasi matagal na po siyang wanted.

Wanted siya ng ibang bansa na binigyan pa ng ran — pabuya ‘yung kanyang pagka-aresto o pagkapatay. Nasa $5 million kung hindi ako nagkakamali.

Nagbigay din po ng pabuya ang ating gobyerno at ibinigay po ito — dinagdagan pa ito ng ating mahal na Pangulo ng 10 milyon, again, dead or alive.

‘Yan ay nagbibigay patibay na ang pagkahuli sa kanya o pagkamatay sa kanya ay napakaimportante.

Mr. Tinaza: But, sir, based on your, as we speak, ‘yung latest info and even from the civilians rescued, from their accounts, you still assume that Ispilon Hapilon is still in Marawi?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Sa aming panig or… On our part, it is safer to assume that the enemies we are looking for are still there.

So that is where we are working at and that is where our focus is, until such time that we have sufficient proof to say otherwise.

Mr. Tinaza: Last, sir, just to clarify. So those civilians recently rescued from the conflict area were actually rescued and not through negotiated — negotiated release from the ISIS?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: No. Most… Majority of them, I would say more than 90% or 99% even were rescued because we have this loudspeaker operation that is ongoing continuously in the City of Marawi. And many of you who have been there are aware of this.

Meron po tayong ginagamit na mga loudspeaker diyan na nakatutok sa loob kung saan inaanunsyo natin ang mga maaaring gawin ng ating mga kapatid na civilian upang makaalis at makatakas sa lugar.

At ito’y kabilang sa mga senyales na ibinabahagi natin para ganap na matukoy natin kung saan sila at malaman natin na sila pala ay talagang inosenteng civilian.

So maaaring gawin ito ng kalaban, pero mas mainam na ibahagi natin ito na mas naging maingat tayo para nang sa gayon wala pong namamatay na civilian unnecessarily.

So patuloy nating gagawin ito at ‘yun po ang ating pinagtutuunan ng pansin dahil important ang bawat buhay na naiiwan po sa loob.

AC Nichols (CNN Philippines): Sir, I just wanted to clarify ‘yung statement lang po ni Lt. Col. Herrera I believe yesterday about female hostages daw po, sir, being forced into marriage and sex slavery, ‘yung mga nasa war zone pa. Verified po ba, sir, ‘yung information? I mean saan din po galing and paano po natin nalaman na may ganun?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Tungkol doon sa balita na ‘yan na may mga bihag na kababaihan sa loob na nagiging ng sex slaves, ito po’y impormasyon na ibinahagi ng mga nakalikas sa loob ng Marawi.

So maaaring dati po silang mga naging hostages na nakatakas dahil noong patuloy na pagbobomba ng mga nakaraang linggo. At sila po ang naglalahad nung mga balitang ito at hindi po natin iniimbento.

Ms. Nichols: [inaudible] ‘Yung claim lang po ng BIFF that Maute and BIFF are one and the same, and that they have pledged allegiance to ISIS daw po?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: The BIFF I think is… Well, it’s proven that they have been issuing contradictory statements.

At one point, their spokesman is saying that they’re not related to the Mautes. At another point, they are saying that they are related to the Mautes and they have done this and done that.

So I guess the credibility of their statements is already questionable based on those changing alliances.

But the fact is, yes, there are members of the BIFF who have joined up with the Mautes inside Marawi. And yes, they continue to pose threats to the areas of Cotabato because of the continuing harassments that they are doing on our detachments and on the people of Cotabato.

Ms. Nichols: But we still treat them as two separate groups pa rin at this point?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Yes, we do because the geographical location of the bulk of the BIFF is not in the area of Marawi.

And Marawi is another front that we are facing right now different from that of the Cotabato area.

Maricel Halili (TV-5): Hi, sir. There were some reports that a number of civilians were beheaded by the terrorists. Is there truth to that, sir?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Yes. In the earlier days of the fighting, there was sufficient proof to believe that there were executions conducted from inside Marawi regarding a number of Christians that were caught.

And these were not beheadings. These were executions. So they were killed by being shot at the back, not in front, at the back while they were kneeling. And these were part of the materials that came out.

So whatever the objective of the terrorists from inside, either to scare people or to communicate across to the other members of the country of their extreme and radical ways has been achieved because of that.

But we continue to get validation of this information as well, from people also who come from inside Marawi who have escaped.

Ms. Halili: How many civilians, sir, are still trapped?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: We are not certain on exactly how many civilians because the number you have right now, which is 27, may increase significantly once we are able to validate all this information. Because there have been a significant number that have been seen in the video.

But again, we could not include many of this because we have not validated or authenticated many of this information yet. Until such time, we will remain with those numbers.

Ms. Halili: Sir, the civilians that were killed may increase?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: The civilians that were killed because of the atrocities committed by the terrorists inside Marawi.

Ms. Halili: But the civilians that are still trapped inside, do we have figures?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: We rely on the local government because they know their constituents better than we do.

And according to their figures, the last time they gave it to us, they said it was still at about 500 or less.

Ms. Halili: Thank you, sir.

Leila Salaverria (Philippine Daily Inquirer): Good morning, General Padilla.

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Good morning.

Ms. Salaverria: Sir, clarification lang. Since we’re not negotiating with the terrorists, what are we doing to secure the rescue of the hostages? Kasi before, you said there were — there will be back-channel talks. So how are we now…?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: We still continue to rely on that kind of avenue to allow for safe passages for whoever is still inside or trapped.

We are treating these two things differently. Iba ‘yung naiipit sa loob na mga residente at ‘yung kanilang pinaghahawakang mga hostages. So dalawa pong bagay ‘yan.

So ang atin pong pinagtutuunan ng pansin is makuha muna natin ‘yung mas madaming mga naiiwan pa na na-trap sa loob na mga residente kasi significant pa ‘yung mga bilang nila. So ‘yun ang ating pinagtutuunan ng pansin.

As to the hostages, we are not negotiating at this point. And we know because we know the mindset of these people, we know how they think. So regardless of negotiations or not, they may end up killing them anyway.

So our assumption is to just pursue our operations in the best way we can, rescue the remaining trapped residents, and maximize the opportunities not only by our offensive, but also the opportunities provided by the peace corridors. And at the same time, effect a rescue of the hostages if at all possible.

Ms. Halili: So other than operations and possible rescue, walang — no talks related to the hostages?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: It’s a compliance to the policy of government that we do not negotiate with terrorists. So we will comply with that to the letter.

Pia Ranada (Rappler): This is for Asec. Banaag, it’s not related to Marawi. Ma’am, there was a report from… There were reports that the Chinese government last June 23 launched a probe on Huang Rulun, the billionaire who donated a drug rehab to our country. And the probe is for corruption allegations. We just want to ask the Palace for… What the Palace thinks? How does the Palace think this probe will affect our relations with China?

ASEC. BANAAG: Yes, Pia, thank you for that. We would be answering the questions later. Since we are in Mindanao Hour, so we’ll be giving the questions out later on.

Jam Sisante (GMA): General Padilla. Sir, can we get a clarification on the President’s statement yesterday that some of his cousins were killed in the Marawi clashes? May we just know more details like, for example, were they killed by government troops or as a result of infighting between the Maute? And the President also mentioned that he talked to them. So may we know the circumstances how he was able to talk to them — to his cousins?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Honestly, I have not had the opportunity to cross-check from how and where the President may have said that.

Be that as it may, it may be possible because these are relatives of the President — that relatives also have been acting as emissaries between them.

He did mention a long time ago that there are some members of his family that could have been swayed to have joined the terrorists. And he may have been alluding to these individuals in mentioning that.

So we will need to verify that further. Anyway, it may be better to ask clarification from Secretary Abella who may have a direct hand and may have a direct access to the President on that matter.

Ms. Sisante: Sir, last. Sir, tingin niyo po, gaano katagal pa kaya ‘yung itatagal ng clashes? Possible ba na matapos ito bago po ‘yung SONA ng Pangulo?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Sinisikap natin na matapos ito sa pinakamadaling panahon. Kasi ‘yun nga, hindi maganda na nagtatagal ‘yung mga ganitong labanan.

Unang una, naiinip na po ang ating mga kapatid na Maranao na nariyan po sa mga evacuation centers. Ninanais din nila na magbalik sa normal ang kanilang buhay.

Kaya’t ang ating pagtuon ng pansin ay bilisan talaga itong pag-clear. Pero maselan kasi ang environment — ang combat environment natin.

Mahirap. At ang kahirapan diyan ay, una, dahil sa presensya ng mga naiipit pa nating mga sibilyang kapatid na nasa loob na maaaring maipit sa bakbakan. So dapat pangalagaan natin ‘yan.

Pangalawa, may pinanghahawakan pa rin silang mga hostages.

Pangatlo, sa dami po ng nare-recover nating mga pasabog at mga patibong na nandiyan sa mga buildings, kinakailangan po talagang dahan-dahan kini-clear ang mga buildings.

Isang halimbawa na maibibigay ko sa inyo na inilahad sa atin ng commandant ng Philippine Marines. May report po sa kanya noong isang linggo na meron po silang mga unit na nakapasok sa isang building, nakita ang mga presensya ng mga bombang ito at ng kanilang pasabugin ito, sa gulat nila, parang Judas’ Belt ito na magkakasunod na nagsiputukan at mahigit sa 10 ang mga pasabog na kanilang narinig, hanggang sa kabilang panig ng kalye.

So ganun ka-sophisticated ‘yung kanilang inilalagay na traps ‘no at mga patibong. Kaya’t ayaw nating mailagay sa alanganin ang ating mga sundalo, kaya’t maingat tayo na nagsasagawa nito.

Isa pa, kung inyong sinusundan ang mga kaganapan sa Gitnang Silangan. Itong giyera sa Mosul, hanggang sa ngayon patuloy pa rin.

Ang batid natin dito, one square kilometer or less na lang yata ang natitira pero hanggang sa ngayon hindi pa natatapos, mahigit walong buwan na ‘yan, nagsimula  ‘yan noong Oktubre ng 2016.

Ganon din doon sa Raqqa Campaign sa Syria na kung saan nagsimula ito ng 6 ng Nobyembre. Pareho rin po, built-up area, city, ganon din po ang klase ng labanan, madaming snipers, madaming pasabog. Mahigit pitong buwan na ‘to na patuloy na nangyayari.

Ganon din po sa ibang lugar tulad ng sa Sirte, ‘nong nag-aaway ang Libya at mga Daesh. Pareho rin po, siyudad, built-up, door-to-door din ang labanan, mga snipers din ang naroroon. Umabot po ito ng anim na buwan mahigit.

At ganun din po doon sa mga iba pa, Ramadi, Fallujah, ‘nong mga nakaraang matagal ng panahon.

Ito po’y mga siyudad tulad ng nangyayari ngayon sa Marawi. Kaya’t ‘yung komplikasyon na ‘yan, kung may mga mas malalaking mga Armed Forces pa na tulad ng mga nakipagbakbakan diyan sa Middle East ay medyo naging challenging sa kanila, mas lalo na po sa atin.

Kaya ang hinihingi po natin dito is kailangan maunawaan ng ating mga kababayan ang hinaharap ng sundalo na kahirapan ng battlefield environment.

Challenging po talaga ito at sinisikap natin na matapos ito sa madaling panahon, pero hindi po ganun kabilis.

At sa mga nagnanais na maintindihan ito, eh ang amin pong pakiusap eh, mas maganda kung mag-volunteer kayo na samahan kami. Maging sundalo kayo, mag-ROTC kayo, nang sa ganon kapag nagkaroon ng mga ganitong bakbakan, ma-eksperyensya niyo rin ang hirap at maunawaan niyo. At lalabas din ang inyong pagiging nationalistic at patriotic.

Glenn Parungao (Brigada News FM): General Padilla, sir. Balikan ko lang po ‘yung kay Isnilon Hapilon. Nabanggit niyo po kanina na meron po kayong mga — marami ng natatanggap na ulat hinggil po sa pagtakas niya from Marawi. Ano po, sir, ‘yung mga lumabas na angle mula po doon sa mga natanggap niyong report, papaano ho siya nakalabas ng Marawi?

BRIG. GEN. PADILLA: Ang karamihan ng impormasyon na natanggap namin hindi naman nag-provide ng details. May nagsabing nakadaan sa ganitong paraan, sa ganong daan.

Pero dahil nga wala kaming patibay at alam namin na ginagawa namin ang aming makakaya para mabantayan lahat ng lagusan, eh hindi muna namin pinaniniwalaan hangga’t walang patibay.

So maaari rin disimpormasyon ito para ma-distract ang ating tropa sa paghahanap sa kanya.

Kasi alam niyo, sa mga naiiwan po sa Marawi siya ‘yung pinakamataas ang presyo ang ulo. Biruin niyo may five million siya na galing sa isang bansa, may 10 million pesos siya galing sa ating sariling gobyerno at may karagdagan pa ‘yan doon sa mga existing na mga awards — na rewards na inilagay sa ulo niya.

So ‘yung perang ‘yan ay napakalaki at maaaring nararamdaman niya ang init ng maaaring gustong i-surrender siya sa mga awtoridad para maka-kolekta ng ganito kalaking halaga.

Kasi mismong ang mahal na Pangulo ang nagsabi na no questions asked. Basta madala mo sa amin, maibigay mo kung nasaan si Hapilon at makuha ito, bayad ka kaagad tulad ng nangyari po sa Bohol.

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