SangyawMindanao

Our problem is not the evacuation rather Exodus. But Fr Chito held captive by this lawless armed men..dubbed themselves as "Maute Group" ...a clan far from the Meranaos. Fr Chitoconfirmation of being alive with the hostage takers is an immediate ceasefire. jsbraza/iligan

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ERNESTO ABELLA with DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE SECRETARY DELFIN LORENZANA AND DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ALAN PETER CAYETANO [Four Seasons Hotel, Moscow, Russia | 23 May 2017] OPENING STATEMENTS: PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: 23 May 2017, Moscow. The President has called me and asked me to announce that as of 10 p.m. Manila time, he has already declared Martial Law for the entire island of Mindanao. SDES Guevarra has clarified that this was possible on the grounds of existence of rebellion because of what is happening in Mindanao based on Article 7, Section 18 of the Constitution. This is good for 60 days. I am going to defer now to Secretary Del Lorenzana, Secretary of National Defense, to give us a backgrounder and then to Secretary Alan Cayetano of the Department of Foreign Affairs. SEC. LORENZANA: Good evening. At 2 p.m. this afternoon, Manila time, joint elements of the Army and the Police were trying to serve a warrant of arrest on ...

"AFP Statement and Updates on the Marawi Operations Auth: Public Affairs Office Chief Marine Colonel Edgard A. Arevalo "The situation in Marawi has stabilized. “Security forces are in full control of the situation. “The armed men we are dealing with are not ISIS but members Local Terrorist Group. “The news being circulated by these terrorists and their sympathizers are spurious and are meant to spread lies and disinformation. It is propaganda to attract foreign terrorists’ support and recognition. “The reported "eyewitness account" is untrue that Amai Pakpak Hospital has been occupied and the people there were held hostage. “The Marawi City Hall was not occupied as was earlier reported merely quoting "sources". “The sporadic firefights heard were harassment actions by terrorist sympathizers that were conducted as diversionary tactics to divide the attention of the reinforcing AFP personnel. “But even these are already held in check. “Information from opera...