Negotiations with rebels ruled out
MANILA/MARAWI CITY: The Philippines ruled out negotiations yesterday with Islamist militants holding hostages and occupying a southern town, after reports a rebel leader wanted to trade a Catholic priest for his parents being held by police.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said there would be no deals with the Maute group militants holed up in Marawi City because that was against government policy, and anyone trying to bargain had no authority to do so.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Abdullah Maute, one of two brothers who formed the militant group carrying their name, had told religious emissaries on Sunday he wanted his mother and father freed in return for Fr Teresito ‘‘Chito’’ Soganub, vicargeneral of Marawi.
The authorities believe Soganub and more than 100 other Christians are being held by the Islamic Statelinked insurgents as human shields.
‘‘The government policy not to negotiate with terrorists remains, hence the local religi ous leaderled talks with terrorists last Sunday was one not sanctioned by government, the military and our political leaders,’’ Abella said.
‘‘Any demands made inside, therefore, hold no basis. Let us remind the public, the gravity of the terrorists and their sup porters’ offences is immense and they must be held accountable for all of their actions.’’
Taking advantage of a short truce on Sunday to mark the Eid alFitr Islamic holiday, eight Muslim leaders entered the conflict zone alongside rescue teams and met briefly with Maute, whom the military a day earlier said had fled the battle.
The Maute brothers’ father, Cayamora Maute, was apprehended on June 6 in Davao City, also on Mindanao island, about 140km southeast of Marawi, and their influential businesswoman mother, Farhana Maute, was arrested three days later, closer to Marawi.
Heavy fighting broke out yesterday as the battle for Marawi entered its sixth week, with intense bombing raids by planes on a shrinking rebel zone.
The protracted seizure of the town by the Maute group has worried the region about the extent IS’ agenda may have gained traction in the southern Philippines, which is more used to banditry, piracy and separatism than radical Islamist ideology.
The rebels’ organisation, combat capability and use of heavy weapons has raised fears in the mainly Roman Catholic country that the Marawi fighting could just be the start of a wider campaign, and may be portrayed by the Maute as a triumph that could boost their recruitment. — Reuters