Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Maute group had planned their siege in Marawi very well, saying that the terrorists chose the commercial heart of the city in order to sustain themselves from the goods ransacked from the establishments in the area.
In a statement Thursday night, June 1, the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) said they want to resume the talks "as soon as possible."
Ground forces involved in the continuing military offensives against the ISIS-linked Maute group and Abu Sayyaf in Marawi are also in danger of being hit by the so-called "friendly" fire or airstrikes. On Wednesday, 11 soldiers were killed while 10 others were wounded when a bomb dropped from an air force plane landed into their position. (Alex D. Lopez/davaotoday.com photo)
President Rodrigo Duterte lashed back at Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former US President Bill Clinton who criticized his latest rape remark.
Even with the cancellation of the fifth round of talks, delegates of the government peace panel and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines continued to hold unilateral and informal meetings here Tuesday, March 31.