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.
An analyst said the attack in Marawi City is a form of a proxy war that the US is staging against President Rodrigo Duterte, whose pivot now leans towards what he called “a Eurasian alliance with China and Russia.”
Compostela Valley police arrested 13 striking workers of Korean-owned banana plantation Shin Sun Tropical Fruits Corporation, reportedly including one minor on Friday
Defense Secretary and Martial Law administrator Delfin Lorenzana said the army will be relying more on troops and armored vehicles to deal with the remaining Maute rebels in Marawi.
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.”
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it will investigate the “friendly” fire that killed 11 soldiers and wounded 10 others amid the continued military operations against the ISIS-linked Maute group and Abu Sayyaf in Marawi City.
Hours after President Rodrigo Duterte warned of arresting communist leaders who will return from the Netherlands, Jose Maria Sison said the peace panels would have issued a joint statement on the fight against terrorism earlier.
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives gave their nod on House Bill 684 which seeks the inclusion of legitimate broadcast and online journalists in the coverage of Shield Law.
Negotiators of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines said they are confused on the government’s dealing with them after Duterte ordered for the arrest of their negotiators who were released to participate in the resumption of the formal talks in August last year.
The streets of Marawi are the expression of emptiness and the absence of life as all of the shops, stores, restaurants, schools, bakeries, gasoline stations and all other business establishments are closed.
