Press Release
October 16, 2017

STATEMENT ON DEATHS OF HAPILON AND MAUTE

The Philippine government, through Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, has confirmed the deaths of Maute Rebellion leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute during an AFP operation in Marawi City.

I applaud our brave men and women in uniform for eliminating the terrorist masterminds primarily responsible for the carnage and devastation in Marawi over the past few months. I hope that this assault will be the finishing blow that brings the war in Marawi to a definitive end. My prayers go out to our courageous soldiers still on the ground in the city. I hope they will all be able to get home safe.

Once peace and order is restored in the city, the government can finally begin in earnest the next battle: the fight to build Marawi back better than it ever was before. This is a challenge we have already begun preparing for, but we now need to double our efforts to immediately jumpstart the local economy and restore the livelihood of Marawi residents once the conflict has come to an end.

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