Lessons Learned in the Battle of Marawi

The Battle of Marawi also known as the Siege of Marawi was a five-month-long
armed conflict in Marawi, Lanao del Sur, Philippines, that started on 23 May 2017,
between Philippine government security forces and militants affiliated with the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf . The
battle also became the longest urban battle in the modern history of the Philippines.

The clashes began during an offensive in Marawi to capture Isnilon Hapilon, the
leader of the ISIL-affiliated Abu Sayyaf group, after receiving reports from the
Intelligence Community that Hapilon was in the city, possibly to meet with militants
of the Maute group. A deadly firefight erupted when Hapilon's forces opened fire on
the combined Army and police teams and called for reinforcements from the Maute
group, an armed group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and which is
believed to be responsible for the 2016 Davao City bombing, according to the
Intelligence Community.

Maute group militants attacked Camp Ranao and occupied several buildings in the
city, including Marawi City Hall, Mindanao State University, a hospital and the city
jail. They also occupied the main street and set fire to Saint Mary's Cathedral, Ninoy
Aquino School and Dansalan College, run by the United Church of Christ in the
Philippines (UCCP). The militants also took a priest and several churchgoers
hostage.

The AFP stated that some of the terrorists were foreigners who had been in the
country for a long time, offering support to the Maute group in Marawi. Their main
objective was to raise an ISIL flag at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol and
declare a Wilayat or provincial ISIL territory in Lanao del Sur.

On 17 October 2017, the day after the deaths of militant leaders Omar Maute and
Isnilon Hapilon, President Duterte declared Marawi was "liberated from terrorist
influence". Then on 23 October 2017, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
announced that the five-month battle against the terrorists in Marawi had finally
ended. The over all casualties of the 5 month old
Casualties

The casualties reported were as follows:

 978 militants killed (13 foreigners)
 12 militants captured (1 foreigner)
 168 government forces killed (12 by friendly fire)
 1,400+ government forces wounded
 87 civilian’s dead (40 due to illness)

The lessons learned I will share on the 5 months Siege based on my experience as
an Intelligence operator in Lanao del Sur Province is all about Triad Operations of
the AFP. First is the Lack of appreciation Of Intelligence from the AFP by the
National Government.. Since Calendar Year 2013, Intelligence Community provided
103rd Brigade, 1ID, PA with Intelligence support by developing intelligence target
Packets against the LTG MAUTE GRP in Butig, Lanao del Sur. MIG10 ISAFP the
submitted submitted a Special report on the existence of the LTG MAUTE Group and

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its recruitment and training in Brgy Poctan, Butig, lanao del Sur. The LTG MAUTE
was monitored on its allegiance to the ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ .The mere
presence of Malaysian terrorist Leader , @SANUSI , who is being coddled by the
Maute Family indicates that the Maute Clan were being radicalized by the JEMAAH
ISLAMIYAH TERRORIST GROUP. Then by the Intelligence Committee that ISIS
leader ISNILON HAPILON and his followers from Basilan Province last December
2016 to Lanao del Sur Province indicates that 103 rd brigade launched several
brigade operations in the hinterlands of Butig Lanao del Sur to disrupt the activities
of LTG MAUTE.

The police chief of Malabang, Romeo Enriquez, whose beheading was cited by
Duterte as one of the bases for his declaration of martial law in a speech on 24 May
2017, was later found to be alive. The police officer actually killed was identified by
the ARMM PNP as Senior Inspector Freddie Solar, a former police chief of Malabang
and member of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines' highest-ranking combat casualty was Rommel
Sandoval, a Captain commanding a company of Philippine Army Scout Rangers.
Sandoval was posthumously conferred the Medal of Valor.
Along with the casualties, much of Marawi was flattened in what was described as
the heaviest urban fighting in the Philippines since World War II.

Background

The Maute group had established a stronghold in Lanao del Sur since February
2016 and was blamed for the 2016 Davao City bombing and two attacks in Butig,
Lanao del Sur, a town located south of Marawi, in 2016. Since the militant group's
founding in 2013, the Philippine government has downplayed the threat of ISIS in the
Philippines. Following the February 2016 Butig clash with the Maute group, then-
President Benigno Aquino III discounted the possibility of the Islamic State's
presence in the country. He said that those behind the attack were just mercenaries
wanting to be recognized by the Middle East-based terror group.

The Abu Sayyaf group, blamed for deadly bombings and kidnappings in the past,
had also pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement in the summer of 2014.
One of its leaders, Isnilon Hapilon, was listed as among the world's most wanted
terrorists by the US State Department with a reward of up to US$5 million for his
capture. Following the abduction and subsequent beheading of Canadian
businessman John Ridsdel in April 2016, Aquino disclosed that he had received
death threats from the jihadist group, and that the Abu Sayyaf also plotted to kidnap
his sister Kris, and Manny Pacquiao. Aquino also identified Hapilon behind attempts
to convert and recruit inmates at the New Bilibid Prison to their cause, and embark
on a bombing campaign in Metro Manila, which he said was "part of their effort to
gain favor with ISIS."

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In November 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed the Maute group's affiliation
with the Islamic State and President Duterte even revealed that the siege of Marawi
City was also related to narcoterrorism. But the Philippine military maintained that
ISIL had not established links with militants in the Philippines. Amidst fierce fighting
in Butig on 30 November 2016, Duterte, in a command briefing in Lanao del Sur,
warned the Maute group: "Ayaw ko makipag-away sa inyo. Ayaw ko makipag-
patayan, (I do not want a fight with you. I don't want us killing each other) but please,
do not force my hand. I cannot be forever traveling here every month para lang
makipag-usap (just to talk), at pagtalikod ko patayan nanaman (and when I turn
around, there's killing again). I do not want to mention anything, but please do not
force my hand into it."

On 2 December 2016, as the military regained control of Butig, the retreating Maute
fighters reportedly left a note threatening to behead Duterte and the military. On 12
December 2016, in a speech before the Wallace Business Forum Dinner, Duterte
dared the Maute group to attack Marawi, stating: "Because they (the Maute group)
threatened to go down from the mountains to burn down Marawi? Go ahead, be my
guest. We will wait for you there. Walang problema (No problem)."

From April to May 2017, Abu Sayyaf fought in clashes with Philippine security forces
in Bohol which resulted in the deaths of three soldiers, a policeman and ten militants.

Prelude to the battle

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stated that the fighting in Marawi was
due to a raid conducted by the military in coordination with the Philippine National
Police, contrary to earlier reports that the clash was initiated by the militant groups.
Rolando Bautista, commanding general of the Philippine Army 1st Infantry Division,
stated that they had received reports of impending activity two or three weeks ahead
of time. As the combined military and local police team conducted zoning in Marawi
to validate the information that suspicious personalities including Omar and Abdullah
Maute were consolidating in the area, their team instead spotted Isnilon Hapilon.
According to the Philippine military, Hapilon had been appointed as emir of the IS
forces in the Philippines and was consolidating his group with the Maute and other
terrorist groups. After residents of Marawi reported the presence of an armed group
within their locale and after the AFP verified the information, the military launched a
"surgical operation" to capture Hapilon only to stumble into an entire city of armed
men.

Timeline

23 May, Firefights between government forces and militants began at approximately

2:00 PM local in the afternoon of 23 May 2017. The Peace and Conflict Journalism
Network reported that the clash occurred in the Basak Malutlut area of the city as
Hapilon's forces called for reinforcements from the Maute group. Maute fighters
occupied the Amai Pakpak Hospital and ordered the PhilHealth employees out of the
facility. The fighters allegedly replaced the Philippine flag hoisted in the hospital with
the Black Standard used by the Islamic State group. A staff member of the hospital
later denied that this happened.

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The 103rd Brigade of the Philippine Army stationed at Camp Ranao was also
attacked by at least 500 Maute group militants. A number of militants were then seen
waving their ISIS black flags as they roamed the streets of Marawi.

The whole city was put on lockdown as several buildings and houses were set
ablaze by members of the Maute group. Dozens of gunmen occupied the Marawi
City Hall as 107 inmates escaped from the Marawi City Jail and the Malabang
District Jail 39 after the Maute attacks. Power and communication lines were also
shut down due to the continued hostilities. Roads leading to Marawi were blocked by
both government security forces and Maute militants. Civilians were reported to had
been abducted by the Maute group, including a priest and several parishioners of the
Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians as the group demanded that the
government stop its offensive against them.

The clashes sparked a mass evacuation of the city with residents fleeing by the
thousands, causing traffic congestion on the highway to Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.
At least eleven civilians had been killed in the ongoing firefight, two of which the
Lanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Office identified as ambulance drivers who were
stopped by Maute militants while responding to an emergency call. Nine of those
civilians were on board a truck when they were stopped by Maute militants at a
checkpoint and shot dead with their hands tied. A police officer was also reported to
have been beheaded by the militants.

On 24 May, additional government forces arrived at the Laguindingan Airport as the

military regained control of the Amai Pakpak Hospital. 120 civilians used as a human
shield by the Maute group were rescued from the hospital. The military had also
recaptured the city hall and the Mindanao State University.

On Thursday 25 May, fresh fighting took place near the Lanao del Sur Provincial
Capitol in the Marawi city center. Black-clad Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants were
still spotted on the city's major roads and bridges. The militants also reportedly took
control of the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative in Gadungan village. The AFP said
there were still three or four dozen Maute, including Isnilon Hapilon, remaining in
Marawi. The Philippine air force launched strikes against remnants of the group in
three nearby villages.

Reports came in that two Malaysian terrorists who were with Isnilon Hapilon in
Marawi to push for the creation of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia were among
those militants killed late Thursday. Intelligence sources also said that an Indonesian
and a Saudi Arabian linked to ISIS were also killed in skirmishes in the city. The AFP
said that 26 of the around 50 Maute militants in the area were killed and 30
government soldiers were wounded.

26 May, At a press briefing in Davao City, AFP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto
Padilla stated that some of the terrorists were foreigners who had been in the
country for quite some time, offering support to the Maute group in Marawi. He noted
that of the twelve killed in a recent engagement, six were from out of the country.

Amid continuing operations against the terror groups, several houses, including the
residence of Lanao del Sur Representative Jun Papandayan, were seen burning as

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residents also reported seeing civilians killed after the military dropped bombs on
Maute positions. Sources said the houses were targeted because of the presence of
Maute snipers.

According to AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr.,
dwellings in the area were intentionally set on fire so as to keep them from being
used as cover by Maute fighters. Limited air strikes were also used on Maute sniper
positions. Galvez stated that no civilians were reported killed in the air strikes, and it
was his hope they could keep military casualties low as well.

As of 26 May 2017, the priest Fr. Chito Suganob and his companions who were
taken hostage by the Maute group on the first day of the clashes, were still being
held by the group according to Marawi bishop Edwin de la Peña.

27 May, 1st Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera told reporters: "We
have identified where they are consolidating so we are doing surgical air strikes to
destroy the local terrorist group." The military troops and Special Action Force
continued their clearing operations by checking each house and building in the city's
downtown area. During the operations on Saturday, troops had encountered child
warriors as young as 10 years old armed with M-16 rifles being used by the Maute
group.

By 27 May, 90 percent of Marawi's population of more than 200,000 people had

been evacuated to neutral grounds, particularly in Iligan.

28 May, The regional military spokesman Jo-Ar Herrera reported 19 civilians, some
of whom were women and children, had been killed in Marawi by 27 May. Eight
civilians were found dead on the side of the road on the outskirts of Marawi on the
previous Sunday (22 May). The victims were later identified as local carpenters who
were part of an evacuation convoy; the militants stopped the convoy and then
massacred those who could not recite verses from the Quran. A signed note was
found attached to one of them, the author indicating that the victims had "betrayed
their faith". Authorities said that 2,000 civilians were trapped in militant-controlled
areas.

Reports came in that 28 Malaysians had joined the Maute group. Citing intelligence
sources in Manila, a Malaysian newspaper reported that the Malaysians arrived early
last week supposedly for a religious event and may have also taken up arms, a
conclusion they arrived at after 2 Malaysians were killed in firefights. The ongoing
clash also raised concerns in Jakarta that extremist groups in Indonesia could be
drawn to join the fight in Marawi as well.

Malacañang Palace Communications Secretary Martin Andanar appealed for foreign

support in fighting the extremist groups in southern Philippines. In an interview with
China Central Television, Andanar said "We need support, be that economic
support, ideological support to fight the ISIS. Now, it is an international issue. We are
doing our best to contain the ISIS and to stop it from spreading in the country."

29 May, the death toll in Marawi had reached 100, the Philippine military confirmed
Monday, including 19 civilians and 61 militants. The military had also retaken most of

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Marawi previously occupied by the extremist groups. Presidential Spokesperson
Ernesto Abella said Monday that only small areas in the city remained under
militants' control. Also on Monday, the Philippine military reported that the
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters[a] from neighboring Maguindanao joined the
Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups in Marawi and that the Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon
Hapilon remained holed up in the city.

Amid continuing air strikes and as the militants fought government forces on 29 May,
fourteen hostages managed to escape their Maute captors. The men said they were
part of a group of 20 who had been taken captive on 27 May while evacuating the
city. Their captors forced them to film a video appeal to Duterte to accede to the
militants' demands or the hostages would be killed. One of the hostages was indeed
beheaded, they reported, and one drowned during the escape.

A spokesman for Nur Misuari said Misuari ordered the Moro National Liberation
Front to fight any Maute in Lanao del Sur. Misuari offered a unit of 500 to 700 MNLF
fighters to help fight the extremists. Luis Jalandoni of the National Democratic Front
stated his group was willing to help as well.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government decided to implement a
"peace corridor" in Lanao del Sur as part of an effort to hasten humanitarian
operations for displaced Marawi residents. The corridor spans from Marawi proper
down to the Malabang town.

30 May, In a video released on 30 May, abducted priest Fr. Teresito Soganub

pleaded the government to stop their offensive against the militants and withdraw all
their forces from Marawi and Lanao del Sur. Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña says
that Soganub was relaying the Maute group's demands in exchange for the safety of
Suganob and other people taken as hostages.

The Marawi city center remains under control of the Maute militants, as two of three
bridges leading to the Marawi city center, the Mapandi and Bayabao bridges, still
contained roadblocks and enemy vehicles with a black flag flying in front of them.

The Philippine Marines had been able to recover eighteen high-powered firearms,
police and military uniforms, and black flags from their two-day clearing operations in
Marawi. They also reported that eight terrorists had been killed Tuesday.

In a joint statement from the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front released Tuesday, Murad Ebrahim said the MILF welcomed the President's
invitation for its forces to extend humanitarian assistance to civilians still trapped in
Marawi.

31 May, AFP spokesperson Restituto Padilla said Wednesday that government

forces have retaken 90 percent of Marawi, including parts of the city center and the
two bridges that lead to it. According to Padilla, the surge in the number of militants
might have something to do with the sympathizers they freed from the city jail, but
that the military managed to secure all entry and exit points to prevent possible
reinforcements for the militants.

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The Associated Press reported that eleven soldiers were killed and seven others
were wounded by friendly fire in a military air strike as government security forces
struggled to drive off remnants of the militant groups from the city. An AFP
spokesman said the incident happened when a SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 turboprop
aircraft providing close air support "over militant positions in Marawi" dropped a
bomb that accidentally hit an army unit locked in close-range combat with the
militants. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered an investigation on the
incident.

At least eight militants have surrendered to government troops on Wednesday.

According to AFP spokesman Restituto Padilla, the militants surrendered to the unit
of Marine Task Force Tiger Tawitawi Commanding general Custodio Parcon and
"have provided very, very valuable intelligence." It was the first time that members of
the militant groups have surrendered since laying siege to Marawi on 23 May 2017.
Additional marines and relief supplies arrived via transport ship on 31 May.

1 June, in a news conference, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that

eight foreign militants had been killed in Marawi, five of which they have identified as
Malaysian, Indonesian, Saudi Arabian, Yemeni and a Chechen. Lorenzana also said
they have revised their estimate of the number of militants involved in the Marawi
attacks since last week from the initial 100 militants to 500 militants, which he said
was composed of 260 Maute militants, 100 Abu Sayyaf militants under Isnilon
Hapilon, and the rest from other local militant organizations. He said 280 militants
have fled the city, some of them mixing with civilians in neighboring towns while an
estimated 50 to 100 militants remained in Marawi.

A friendly fire incident took place in Marawi. Two Philippine Air Force planes bombed
rebel positions, but one plane missed its target and instead hit government troops on
the ground, killing 10 soldiers. Following the incident, Senate President Aquilino
Pimentel III asked for a review of the Philippine military's strategy in the ongoing
campaign against the militant groups in Marawi. Senator Antonio Trillanes called the
incident "tragic and unfortunate" as he called on the military to ensure that similar
incidents will never happen again. Senator Panfilo Lacson encouraged the public to
support the AFP as well as the investigation being conducted.

2 June, Malacañang Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella dispelled speculations that

the 2017 Resorts World Manila attack that transpired in the early hours of 2 June
2017 in Pasay was connected to the ongoing military offensive against the Maute
group in Marawi or to ISIS. He also denied any possible terrorism link in the incident.

In an update to the media on the situation in Marawi, the AFP spokesperson said
that the militants remained holed up in commercial buildings in the city center and
that they believe Isnilon Hapilon to be still in Marawi. He also acknowledged that
their earlier 2 June deadline for completely taking back the city from the militant
groups would not be met as they continued to put up significant resistance. The
Indonesian Foreign Ministry through its embassy in Manila was able to rescue 17 of
their citizens from Marawi on Thursday with help from the AFP.

3 June, On 3 June 2017, Duterte and Nur Misuari (founding chairman of the Moro
National Liberation Front) made an agreement that 2000 MNLF fighters would be

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enlisted into the Philippine military and join in the fighting in Marawi. However, a few
days later, both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Duterte himself issued
statements that this would not be happening soon.

On 4 June 2017, a ceasefire agreement was reached between the Philippine

government and the ISIL fighters remaining in the center of Marawi. This ceasefire
had been facilitated by MILF, which had been asked by Duterte to help negotiate a
settlement by which civilians still trapped in the city could be evacuated. The
ceasefire was to begin at 8 A.M. and last for four hours. However, the Philippines
Military units in the city refused to accept the terms of the ceasefire, and only allowed
the evacuation of those individuals on the edges of the areas controlled by ISIL.
Fighting in the city broke out at 9 A.M. The army claimed that 179 civilians were
evacuated, while a presidential spokesperson claimed that 134 were evacuated—
fewer than on preceding days—leaving about 2,000 civilians trapped in the city. Two
soldiers were injured.

Authorities claimed that the total number of civilian casualties had increased from 20
to 38, all killed by militants, while local residents claimed that airstrikes had killed
dozens of civilians.

On 6 June 2017, police in Davao arrested Cayamora Maute, the 67-year-old

patriarch of the leaders of the Maute group. He was arrested at a Task Force Davao
checkpoint in Sirawan, Toril District. Cayamora was aboard a van wearing a surgical
mask to avoid identification, when they were stopped at the checkpoint.

On 9 June 2017, the police received information and arrested the mother of the
Maute terrorist group leaders, Ominta Romato Maute. Ominta, also known as
Farhana, was arrested in the town of Masiu in Lanao del Sur, along with two other
wounded family members and 7 other unidentified females. Also on 9 June, it was
reported that 13 Philippine Marines had been killed and 40 wounded during a
clearing operation in Marawi. American Special Forces were deployed to the city in
an advisory role.

On 11 June 2017, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday announced
that it has so far killed 191 Maute group terrorists in the ongoing operations to clear
Marawi.

12 June (Philippine Independence Day)

On 12 June 2017, the Philippines' Independence Day, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines hoped that as of this day, Marawi siege will be over. The Philippine
Government raised the symbolic Philippine Flag in several places in Marawi like the
Marawi City Hall, Lanao del Sur Provincial Capital, Camp Ranao, Mindanao State
University, Amai Pakpak Hospital and several roads in the city. Philippine troops,
Tanks, Rescue Van and trucks, Police cars, Patrol Cars, Army Service units and
Heavy Tanks also carried a Philippine Flag which symbolizes that the roads they are
roaming around are part of Philippine Territory to fight back to the Maute's black flag.
However, the battle still continues.

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16 June, The Armed Forces of the Philippines announced that they have begun
"normalization operations" and has begun cooperating with local government units in
restoring the situation in Marawi back to normal. Clashes against militants continues.
The Philippine Army stated that it had secured 90% of Marawi, on 16 June 2017.

19 June, The Armed Forces of the Philippines raided a Maute group safehouse,
where they confiscated bags of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and related
drug paraphernalia. Captain Eric Estrevillo of the 49th Infantry Battalion stated on a
press conference that Maute group members use shabu to endure long battles, and
in addition, looked "high" during combat.

23 June, The Philippine government accepts Australia's offer to send two AP-3C
Orion surveillance aircraft to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Marawi.

24 June, according to some news websites, the leader of Abu Sayyaf and the emir of
the ISIS Philippines Isnilon Hapilon withdrew from Marawi, according to Lt. Gen.
Carlito Galvez, the head of Western Mindanao Command. However, according to the
Philippine Military, Isnilon's escape from the city is yet to be confirmed.

The Philippine military declared an 8-hour ceasefire effective from 6:00 am of 25

June to give way for the observance of Eid el-Fitr but has maintained that the
ceasefire will be lifted if the militants open fire at government forces or civilians.

25 June (Start of Eid al-Fitr), At 6:50 a.m. amidst a congressional prayer for the Eid
al-Fitr celebration held at the provincial capitol building, suspected gunshots were
heard; a few minutes after the unilateral ceasefire by the government was declared.
Entrance and exit points to Marawi remained guarded by government security forces
against the influx of aid to Maute forces and assist civilians fleeing the city.

Civilian volunteers along with Moro Islamic Liberation Front members took
advantage of the ceasefire to repatriate civilians in opposing combat areas. ISIL-
linked militant snipers opened fire at some government held positions but none of the
clashes during the ceasefire were deemed major by the government. When the
unilateral ceasefire expired, full-scale hostilities between government forces and
militants continued.

30 June, two surveillance planes which were committed by Australia started

conducting operations in Marawi. Filipino pilots and technicians are aboard the
aircraft and will assist in relaying information to forces on the ground. The mission
involving the Australian planes will take place for two weeks.

3 July, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said senior ISIS leader Isnilon Hapilon
was believed to be hiding inside one of the mosques in Marawi.

4 July, Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella confirmed reports that Maute has
looted an estimated P500 million worth of money from Marawi. Dansalan College,
which had been used by the militants as a sniper roost, was retaken by government
troops and 410 firearms were recovered since clearing operations began.

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12 July, a FA-50PH Golden Eagle fighter jet missed a target by 250 meters (820 ft)
resulting to a friendly fire which killed two soldiers and injured 11 others. All FA-50s
were grounded pending an investigation while other air assets of the Philippine Air
Force remained operating in Marawi.

13 July, as of 7 p.m. on 13 July, security forces have killed 394 terrorists and
recovered 498 firearms. But government fatalities numbered 93 while the terrorists
killed 45 civilians. Troops were able to rescue 1,723 people from the war-torn city but
there are still some 300 civilians who are either trapped by the fighting or taken
hostage by the terrorists.

15 July, according to Brig. Gen. Resituto Padilla, the military is still assessing the
security accession of the Battle of Marawi even though the fight was on its climax.
Also, he noted that the campaign will continue before and even after Duterte's State
of the Nation Address.

He also noted that the AFP is doing its best to accomplish the 10-15-day deadline
set by the president.

18 July, National news agencies told the public that Duterte is considering to extend
the martial law until the end of the year, which is 31 December. The president insists
that Martial Law is needed for faster rehabilitation of Marawi after the battle has
ended.
"I have come to the conclusion that the existing rebellion in Mindanao, which has
prompted me to issue Proclamation No. 216 on 23 May 2017, will not be quelled
completely by 22 July 2017," Duterte said in a portion of his letter read aloud by the
Executive Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. "For this reason, because public safety
requires it, I call upon the Congress to extend until 31 December 2017 or for such a
period of time as the Congress may determine the proclamation of martial law and
the suspension of privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao,"
he added.

19 July, Duterte said the Marawi crisis birthed a "newly evolving type of urban
warfare" and his declaration of martial law in Mindanao is meant to fight this menace.
In the full text of his letter to Congress released on that day, Duterte said this type of
warfare is "characterized by the rebels' total disregard for civilian lives, cruelty to
combatants and non-combatants alike, widespread looting, and pillaging of occupied
communities."

He added this particular kind of warfare resulted in a "significant number of

casualties," and firefights that have prevented government troops from moving
forward as well as cleanup operations.

20 July, Militant control over Mapandi Bridge ended when government forces took
control of the structure.

22 July, Through a joint session of the Philippines' Congress of the Philippines

between the House of Representatives and the Senate, 16 senators, 261-18
Congressmen (Not one congressman abstained among those present), in favor of
Duterte's request, voted for the extension of Proclamation Order No. 216—Imposing

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Martial Law in the whole Mindanao Region. This extension is valid until 31 December
2017.

27 July, Agakhan Sharief, a Marawi Muslim cleric well known to the Maute clan,
stated in November 2017 that the militants had asked Muslim leaders to urge Duterte
in allowing the militants to escape in return for release of the hostages. He stated
that they had asked for help in arranging for MILF to receive the hostages and
escorting the militants out of the city. MILF's top peace negotiator, Mohagher Iqbal,
confirmed the Maute proposal, but the government had ignored it. Delfin Lorenzana
said that Duterte was aware of the offer but it was "too little, too late".

18 August, Joint Task Force Marawi stated that the main battle area of the conflict is
now confined to an area of covering 800 x 600 meters (2624.67 x 1968.5 feet). 400
buildings remained unclear from Maute elements by government forces.

19 August, Maute militants are now confined to an area near the city's Grand
Mosque with 40 civilians believed to be still held hostage.

22 August, Government forces recaptured the Marawi City Police Station from the
militants. Among the first features seized by ISIL-link militants in the early part of the
battle, the police station is considered a "strategic location" by the Philippine military.

23–24 August, The Grand Mosque where hostages by ISIL-linked militants were
allegedly held was recaptured by government forces. However, troops did not
encounter any militants or the hostages when they entered the building.

25–29 August, Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, the spokesman of Joint Task Force
Marawi, stated that the military had recaptured St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral, one of
the first facilities occupied by the militants when they laid siege to the city. General
Eduardo Año said that their leaders had been cornered in a battle zone restricted to
500 square metres. AFP meanwhile reported deaths of 10 militants who tried to
sneak from Lake Lanao into Marawi as reinforcements.

September, the following bridges above Agus River in Marawi were tagged as
strategic by government forces along with dates when the government secured
control over the structures; from top to bottom:

 Mapandi Bridge (20 July)

 Bayabao (Banggolo) Bridge (1 September)
 Raya Madaya (Masiu) Bridge (24 September)
 ISIL-linked militants were concentrated on the west side of the river.

1 September, the military took control of Bayabao Bridge after clashes which saw
three soldiers and five militants killed. The structure which connects the conflict area
to the city center is the second bridge recaptured by government forces.

16 September, at around 17:00, government forces regained control over the Bato
Mosque and the Amaitul Islamiya Marawi Foundation building which was used by
ISIL-linked militants as their control center after a five-hour gunfight. At 17:00, Father
Chito Soganub, who was reportedly held taken hostage few months ago was found

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by government forces abandoned by his captors near the mosque and was flown to
Davao City to meet Duterte.

24 September, Government forces secured Masiu Bridge also known as the Raya
Madaya Bridge, one of the critical bridges which the militants had occupied and
which leads to Lake Lanao, thus depriving the militants of an escape route. This was
described by the government as a significant development in the battle.

25 September, The Sultan of Marawi, Sultan Hamidullah Atar, following President

Rodrigo Duterte's earlier offer for a dialogue with the militants, offered to mediate
between Maute Group and government forces to spare civilians still trapped inside
the Marawi City and pave way for the possible release of hostages.

Atar, who is also a conflict mediation professional, said talks with the Maute group
can be done through the traditional mechanisms as they are also Maranaos. He
related that he was able to link up with several members of the Maute group while he
was also trapped in Marawi for 4 days.

10 October, eight foreign militants, along with Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute, were
acting as leaders of the ISIL-linked militants by 10 October, according to the
Philippine military.

16 October, Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were reportedly killed during the
operation of rescuing the hostages on 16 October, according to the statement
released by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. On the same day, the Philippine
Army estimated that there were about 100 ISIL militants still fighting in Marawi.

17 October, Following the deaths of Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon, Duterte
declared the liberation of Marawi. At around 2PM, he addressed a crowd, saying: "I
hereby declare Marawi City liberated from the terrorist influence that marks the
beginning of rehabilitation of Marawi." AFP Chief Gen. Eduardo Año said that the
announcement meant that the conflict is substantially over now that the militants'
leaders were killed. However, he maintained that there were skirmishes and that 20–
30 militants with 20 hostages remained confined in 2 hectares (4.9 acres) area in the
city.

18–19 October, Military officials stated on 18 October that 4 militants had been killed,
while 10 soldiers were injured in fighting that continued after Duterte's "liberation"
declaration. AFP said on the following day that the senior ISIL commander Mahmud
Ahmad may have been among the 13 militants killed overnight, though they were still
trying to verify his death with two rescued hostages stating that he had died and was
buried. Meanwhile, seven more hostages were rescued on the same day. Seven
more terrorists were killed on 19 October according to AFP.

20–21 October, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez stated on 20 October that they had rescued
10 hostages, while 11 people, about whom it was not known whether they were
hostages or Maute members, were also in their custody. He added that four
hostages were still being held by the terrorists while a small band of Maute fighters
were making a last stand in three buildings. Padilla added that a soldier was killed,
while three others were wounded in military operations during the day. The military

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meanwhile started a gradual pullout of troops from the battle zone following the
mission against Hapilon and Omar.

21 October, Galvez stated on next day that about 20 militants, including five
significant figures, remained in a small area of the city. He also added that they were
closing in on three sons of Hapilon, two Malaysians including Amin Bacu, and a
prominent Indonesian militant. Gen. Pamonag declared victory on the same day,
however the military stated that Maute fighters were still resisting in a small area.
Baco and an Indonesian, Ibno Kayin, were named as their leaders.

22 October, Deputy commander of the operation, Col. Romeo Brawner, told a press
conference that an estimated 30 people, including militants and some of their family
members, were fighting to hold a fortified two-storey building next to Lake Lanao,
which was the final ISIL-held building in Marawi. He added that soldiers were using
loudspeakers to urge them to surrender and that the military didn't know who their
leader was. Brawner also declared that the military had rescued the last 20 hostages
by 22 October. As of then, 919 militants and 165 security personnel had been killed
in the battle.

On 23 October, the AFP cleared the final ISIL-held building in Marawi, fully
recapturing the city. General Eduardo Año stated bodies of 42 dead militants were
found in two buildings and a mosque in the battle zone, stating that it was possible
that some militants were still hiding. The bodies also included two wives of Maute
gunmen. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced the end of the
battle and the end of combat operations in the area. He added that Bacu was
believed to among those 42 dead militants. Intelligence sources later stated that he
was among the last three or four militants who could have escaped. However, in
November, the Philippine Army stated that they believed that Amin Baco had been
killed during the battle, and that the remnants of the Maute group were now largely
leaderless.

Casualties

The casualties reported were as follows:

 978 militants killed (13 foreigners)
 12 militants captured (1 foreigner)
 168 government forces killed (12 by friendly fire)
 1,400+ government forces wounded
 87 civilian’s dead (40 due to illness)

The police chief of Malabang, Romeo Enriquez, whose beheading was cited by
Duterte as one of the bases for his declaration of martial law in a speech on 24 May
2017, was later found to be alive. The police officer actually killed was identified by
the ARMM PNP as Senior Inspector Freddie Solar, a former police chief of Malabang
and member of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines' highest-ranking combat casualty was Rommel
Sandoval, a Captain commanding a company of Philippine Army Scout Rangers.
Sandoval was posthumously conferred the Medal of Valor.

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Along with the casualties, much of Marawi was flattened in what was described as
the heaviest urban fighting in the Philippines since World War II.

Deaths of evacuees due to diseases

According to the Philippines' Health Department report on 16 June, at least 40

evacuees, who were staying outside evacuation centers, died of dehydration, while
19 others lost their lives as a result of diseases contracted due to living in congested
evacuation camps. The following month, the Health Secretary denied this report and
stated just four evacuees died of dehydration, instead of 40. However, in September,
it was once again reported 40 evacuees had died due to illness.

Aftermath

Post-battle fighting and clearing operations

After the end of military operations, the AFP killed a suspected surviving militant
trying to escape on 31 October, according to Col. Romeo Brawner. Muhammad
Ilham Syaputra, an Indonesian militant who reportedly played a role in the 2016
Jakarta attacks, was caught near Marawi on 1 November. He was caught while
trying to escape from a district where several Maute fighters had been hiding,
according to the police. Military officials stated on the next day that two militants
engaged in a firefight with AFP and were killed during the night of 1 November. Task
Force Ranao deputy commander Romeo Brawner stated that Abu Talha, who was
Hapilon's trusted aide for years, in addition to an unidentified militant, were killed
while hiding in a building.

Sporadic fighting continued following the declaration of victory, with troops battling
some fighters hiding amid the ruins. The military stated on 6 November that nine
more militants were killed in day-long clashes. Brawner stated that one of them was
Ibrahim Maute alias Abu Jamil, a cousin of the Maute brothers. Philippine National
Police chief Ronald dela Rosa meanwhile claimed that Amin Baco was still alive and
had become the new emir. Military officials however said they believed Baco had
been killed during the clashes on the same day or in recent weeks. Lt. Gen. Carlito
Galvez said at a separate briefing that Baco and Abdullah, one of Hapilon's sons,
could be among the nine who were killed. Two more militants were later killed,
raising their death toll to 11, according to the military.

On 16 November, the AFP stated that they believed there were no more stragglers in
Marawi, due to the lack of fighting between both sides for the past few weeks.
Galvez confirmed in December 2017 the deaths of all the Maute brothers had been
killed by AFP. He added that the military was continuing its manhunt for Abu Dar, a
senior Maute leader. Dar was reported in January 2018 to have recruited new
fighters from the cash and gold looted in Marawi.

Infrastructure damage

The battle left the city in ruins with 95 percent of the structures within the 4 square
kilometres (1.5 sq mi) of the main battle area to be heavily damaged or completely
collapsed. 3,152 buildings were completely destroyed and 2,145 buildings were

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partially to heavily damaged due to the five-month heavy bombardment during the
war.

Displacement of residents

Government estimates placed the number of residents displaced during the crisis at
200,000. About 70 percent of displaced residents lived in nearby temporary
government shelters as of May 2018. According to a United Nations estimate in
December 2017, the number of indigenous Lumads that have been displaced is at
2,500.

The Battle for Marawi took a heavy toll on infrastructure and private property in the
city quarter where the battle was concentrated. At one point, over 200,000 of the
civilian population evacuated to neighboring cities and towns such as Iligan,
Cagayan de Oro, and Lanao Norte coastal towns at the start of hostilities. In April
2018, the government allowed some residents to visit their dwelling places for limited
periods of time due to danger of unexploded ordnance still littering the battlefield (at
the height of the fighting, government warplanes had to drop tons of bombs on rebel
positions but many of them failed to detonate.)

By May 2018, around 70 percent of Marawi's residents had returned home.

According to the Philippines' Department of Social Welfare and Development, 64,364
displaced families have returned to the city as of July 2018. As of March 2019,
around 70,000 people were still displaced.

Human rights concerns

An Amnesty International report released on 16 November 2017 blamed the militants

and government forces of widespread abuses, some of which amount to war crimes.
It was based on interviews with 48 survivors and witnesses, as well as local leaders,
journalists and activists. It accused pro-ISIL fighters of extrajudicial killings and
hostage-taking while accusing soldiers of mistreating people in custody. It also
stated that government shelling caused widespread destruction in Marawi, civilians
were trapped in crossfire and all parties engaged in looting.

Per the report, the pro-ISIL fighters targeted and brutally killed Christians or anyone
who couldn't recite Shahada (profession of Muslim faith). Victims of pro-ISIL fighters
were either held hostage or killed. Amnesty International documented at least 25
extrajudicial killings at their hands. Hostages were tortured and abused, made to
forage for food, collected and buried cadavers, dug foxholes for fighters, made IEDs,
were forced to fight the Army or used as sex slaves. Those attempting to escape
were shot or beheaded, Amnesty International said.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International also reported that several survivors accused that
they were shot at, beaten and tortured by Philippine Marines to make them confess
of being an ISIL member, with one survivor stating he was doused with a hot liquid.
Witnesses also said that 10 hostages were killed in air strikes by pro-government
forces. It questioned whether civilian deaths and "large-scale destruction" in
government air and ground attacks were "militarily necessary and proportional to the
threat posed" by the fighters. It also questioned whether the operations met the

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requirements under international humanitarian law based on the fact that the military
carried out bombings even after it declared only a few militants remained alive.

AFP reiterated in November 2018 its commitment to protecting human rights in

response to the report by Amnesty International. AFP spokesman Maj. Gen.
Restituto Padilla said soldiers accused of abuses will be investigated and those
found guilty will be disciplined. He gave filing of looting charges against an army
officer and five soldiers as an example of the commitment. In response to claims of
"disproportionate air and ground attacks" by AFP, he asked the public to take into
consideration the difficulties faced by it.

According to a Mindanao-based human rights group, there have been 130 reported
cases of extrajudicial killings one year into the declaration of martial law in
Mindanao, with most of the victims being peasants and indigenous Lumads.

City restoration

A year of rehabilitation and restoration was made official in 2018 by the national
government, prompting cultural conservationists to point out that Maranao
architectural styles and designs should be used in all reconstructions, rehabilitation,
and restorations so that the indigenous Maranao aesthetics of the city won't be lost
in the tide of development. On 30 January 2018, it was announced that a military
camp will be established in the city, where the old city hall will be 'replaced' by a two-
story building for military personnel, worrying conservationists of the possibility that
the old heritage structures of Marawi will be demolished instead of being restored.

Rehabilitation will cost PHP 75 billion (US$1.4 billion) and will be completed in 2021,
according to Task Force Bangon Marawi.

Many displaced residents remain in relocation sites on the outskirts of the city.

Reactions

National government

See also: Proclamation No. 216

Following the clash, Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao at 10:00 in the
evening (UTC+8) of 23 May 2017. As per the 1987 Constitution, the state of martial
law will initially last for 60 days. Duterte also decided to shorten his diplomatic visit to
Russia.

Vice President Leni Robredo started organizing donations and directing relief
operations for the victims.

Several checkpoints were set up in Metro Manila on Sunday 28 May 2017.

The Department of Education launched the Brigada for Marawi (transl.  "Brigade for
Marawi") program to help displaced teachers and students from Marawi. As part of
the program, the department has solicited donations from the public, tracked
displaced teachers and students and provided psychological aid to affected

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teachers. The Department of Social Welfare and Development pledged to provide
one-time aid of ₱1,000 to each displaced family. It is meant to enable Muslim
families to still observe Ramadan.

An inter-agency task force called the Task Force Bangon Marawi was set up on 28
June 2017 to facilitate the rehabilitation of Marawi after the conflict subsides.

The government decided in July 2017 to withdraw its financial support for the
Philippine Olympic Committee to host the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Its
reallocated funds meant for the hosting of the games for the rehabilitation of Marawi
but this August, the government says that it will be hosting the 2019 SEA Games.

Local government units

The government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has allocated ₱35
million as aid for displaced Marawi residents. The regional health department has
also set up an operations center for the displaced. Other governments in Mindanao
have also provided relief aid such as Compostela Valley and Davao City.

In a manifesto, all mayors of Lanao del Sur in August 2017 labeled the Maute Group
and its sympathizers as an "Enemy of the Maranao People" and also classified the
group under the ISIL.

Institutions

The University of Makati began admitting displaced people from Marawi, and
children of soldiers who fought in the conflict under a scholarship program.

Religious sectors and community leaders

Lanao sultans making an open letter to Duterte urging for the quick resolution of the
Battle of Marawi

The President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, Socrates

Villegas, on Wednesday, 24 May, asked for prayers after Maute militants took a
priest and some parishioners hostage in Marawi. The CBCP President also asked
the government forces to "make the safety of the hostages a primordial
consideration" while ensuring that the law is upheld. The Philippine Center for Islam
and Democracy condemned the acts of the militant groups saying that their acts
were contrary to the teachings of Islam. The Muslim group noted that the incident
occurred at the time when Muslims were preparing for Ramadan, which according to
them made the acts of the militants more heinous. 22 sultans and imams from
Marawi also urged Duterte for the resolution of the crisis before the end of Ramadan
and told the militants which they say are not Marawinians to leave the besieged city
and insist that Islam respects values and respects humanity.

Sheik Abehuraira Abdulrahman Udasan, a mufti, issued a fatwa "against the entry
and spread of violent radicalism or extremism" in the Bangsamoro area. This edict
was supported by the militant group MILF, which has been assisting the government.

Page 17 of 20
Muslim clerics from a Ulama conference while expressing support for government
efforts in regards to the peace process in Mindanao called for an end of air strike by
government forces while condemning the acts of the militants as violent extremism
and appealed Duterte to appoint a Muslim Justice of the Supreme Court.

Social media

Philippine National Police advisory addressed to the public regarding the

dissemination of information in relation to the Marawi crisis

Reactions to the declaration of martial law were mixed on social media. Amidst
unconfirmed reports of beheading and kidnapping, PNP spokesman Dionardo Carlos
appealed in a press briefing addressed to the public to limit "to what they know what
they see" in making posts relevant to the Marawi incident in social media. Numerous
Filipino TV personalities have expressed their reactions to the ongoing clash
between the government forces and the Maute terror groups in Mindanao. Some
Pinoy celebrities also called for unity despite the division in political alliances.

Others

A group of civilian evacuees who fled from the city organized as the Meranaw
Victims Movement (MVM) in September 2017. They have issued statements to the
ISIL-linked militants to release the hostages and leave Marawi through a Facebook
post or the MVM would be "compelled to face" them. The MVM has also called for
the halt of airstrikes on the city as well as the return of evacuated civilians to their
homes.

International

China, Russia, and the United States expressed support for the security efforts of the
Philippine Government, with Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressing
condolence for the victims of the crisis. Canada has also said that they will extend
humanitarian aid upon request of the Philippine government.

Malaysia began to tighten its border with the Philippines shortly after the President
announced martial law, while the United Kingdom warned its citizens to avoid
traveling to western Mindanao. Saudi Arabia through its embassy in Manila also
advised its citizens to avoid public places in the Philippines in general. Malaysian
Prime Minister Najib Razak also announced his government's full support to
Philippine forces.

Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia will launch joint patrols in waters off the
Mindanao region to counter threats from Islamic State group militants. Joint sea
patrols in the waters bordering the three nations would kick off on 19 June 2017.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian military will also strengthen its outer islands bordering the
Philippines by building more military bases to prevent the militant groups from
entering Indonesia.

Military aid

Page 18 of 20
Australia sent AP-3C Orion planes to the southern Philippines following the conflict
as surveillance support. The planes started flying over Marawi on 30 June with
Filipino pilots and technicians aboard as part of the crew.

The United States provided several deliveries of military equipment. In May 2017,
the United States delivered 200 Glock pistols, 300 M4 carbines, 100 grenade
launchers, four mini-guns, and individual operator gear worth ₱250 million (US$5
million). Two Cessna 208 surveillance aircraft worth ₱1.6 billion (US$31 million) were
delivered to the Philippine Air Force in July, and a Tethered Aerostat Radar System
was turned over to the Philippine Navy in August to enhance its maritime
surveillance capabilities. A Raven tactical UAV, delivered in January 2017, was also
used in Marawi.

On 23 June, Australia announced it would provide surveillance support to the

Philippines' armed forces by sending two RAAF AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft
on flights over the southern Philippines. After the operational details regarding the
surveillance support were finalized between the Philippine and Australian military, it
was planned that the AP-3C Orion would be immediately deployed in Marawi. In
August 2017 the offer was extended further to include the deployment of special
forces in a training and advisory role, similar to the role Australian forces play in Iraq.
The Philippines accepted the offer in early September 2017 and talks are ongoing to
determine the extent of the assistance.

China donated 50 million renminbi[b] worth of arms aid which comprises around
3,000 rifles and 6 million pieces of ammunition. Three types of rifles were given:
sniper rifles, automatic rifles, and marksman rifles.

Russia also pledged to provide weapons, technical and intelligence aid to the
Philippines in response to the attack on Marawi which caused President Rodrigo
Duterte's state visit to Russia to end earlier than planned. Russia donated 20
multipurpose vehicles, 5,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, one million rounds of
ammunition and 5,000 steel helmets to the Philippines. However, this equipment
arrived on October 25, 2019 with the battle in Marawi already concluded.

Humanitarian aid

Humanitarian supplies provided by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

(ASEAN) being delivered by plane.

Israel and South Korea made donations to the Philippine Red Cross for the
organization's efforts in Marawi. The European Union has pledged to donate 850
thousand euros[c] worth of humanitarian aid meant for people affected in the conflict.

Turkey through its Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency has pledged to
support to feed displaced Marawi school children studying in temporary learning
spaces.

Page 19 of 20
Singapore has offered to provide its air force's C-130 to help bring in humanitarian
supplies. It also offered to send UAVs to be manned by Singaporean troops to assist
the AFP in enhancing surveillance and intelligence capabilities and urban training
villages to help the AFP train in urban warfare. Defense Secretary Lorenzana
accepted the offer and has instructed the AFP to study the Singaporean military's
ISR programs. Thailand has also offered to deploy its troops to Marawi for
humanitarian non-combat operations.

On 6 July, the Malaysian Armed Forces announced that it was considering sending
humanitarian relief for the civilians in Marawi. By 21 July, through the country RMAF
A400M, food and medical supplies are being sent for the city internally-displaced
residents. On 25 July, the country promise to send more humanitarian aid as the
situation worsened.

Relief effort assistance also came from the United States which totaled ₱730 million
(US$15 million). ₱153 million (US$3 million) was allocated for supplies such as
drinking water, hygiene kits, evacuation centers shelter materials, and for programs
to protect displaced women and children. ₱577 million (US$13 million) was
earmarked for the stabilization and rehabilitation of the city and surrounding areas,
including restoring basic public services such as health care, water, and electricity.

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