The top leaders behind the months-long war in Marawi have been killed, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed Monday.
Lorenzana made this confirmation when asked if reports were true that Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed in clashes.
“Yes, but wait for our official press release,” he told Inquirer.net.
Details on the deaths of the two leaders, however, were not immediately given. The two earlier pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
Hapilon, leader of the Abu Sayyaf based in Basilan, is the purported emir of ISIS in Southeast Asia. Omar is one of the leaders behind the Maute Terrorist Group.
The conflict between government forces and armed groups started May 23, when authorities tried to arrest Hapilon.
The armed groups were also supposed to establish a wilayat or ISIS province in Marawi.