We have some reports that he was already able to slip somewhere but as of now we are still confirming the reports,” Galvez said in an interview with DZBB radio station. Asked if Hapilon was on the run, he said: “Yes, yes because reportedly he suffered a lot of casualties. Security analysts say he has been recognized by IS as its “amir”, or leader, in Southeast Asia, a region where the group wants to establish a caliphate. The military says Hapilon’s group had joined forces with another armed militancy, the Maute Group, to launch the Marawi siege, now on its second month. Nearly 300 militants and 67 government troops have been killed in the fighting, according to official figures.

Source: Manila Times June 24, 2017 05:48 UTC