Over 100 suspects linked to Marawi crisis at large

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) admitted yesterday that a “big part” of individuals purportedly involved in the armed conflict in Marawi City remained a “threat” since they are still at large.

AFP spokesperson Major General Restituto Padilla Jr. noted that only more than a hundred have been apprehended out of 310 individuals covered by arrest orders issued in connection with the Marawi crisis.

He said the military remained vigilant as those ordered arrested might go into hiding in Manila, Visayas, or Mindanao.

“We continue to be alert because out of the names indicated in the arrest order, which is almost about 300, If I’m not mistaken, there were only about a hundred, most likely more than a hundred who were arrested. So a big part of that list remains at large. So remember, they still remain at large so they still pose a threat,” Padilla told reporters.

“It is subject to investigation and monitoring. And like those who were arrested the past few weeks and days, only two had been located.

So some may be in Manila while many of them may be in Visayas or in Mindanao,” he added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, martial law administrator in the south, signed Arrest Order 1 and 2, containing the names of 310 alleged members and sympathizers of terror groups in Mindanao.

Arrest Order 1 covers 125 individuals while Arrest Order 2 lists 185 names, including those of alleged Maute clan members who led the militants who fought against government troops in Marawi City.

The armed conflict in Marawi ended five months after fighting erupted on May 23, shortly after a government raid failed to capture Isnilon Hapilon, a local terrorist listed on the US government’s list of most wanted terrorists.

Hapilon and Omar Maute, one of the Maute leaders, were killed a day before President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi’s liberation from terrorist influence on October 17. A week later, government announced the end of the conflict,