AFP retakes Marawi Grand Mosque where Maute holed up

The military on Thursday recaptured the Grand Mosque in the conflict-torn Marawi City where terrorist
have been holed up with their civilian hostage, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday.
“So early yesterday morning, that assault on the Grand Mosque was conducted. We met resistance in the
surrounding areas over that less than a month of time, until we got to that point when we were able to assault
the Grand Mosque,” said AFP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Resituto Padilla in a Palace briefing.
Padilla said “there was resistance offered by the enemy who were holding the area, while the main forces of
the enemy were retreating.”

“Unfortunately, we did not find any hostages in the facility,” he said.

The retake of the Grand Mosque, he said, was “a significant development” in the ongoing fight with Maute
terrorists.

La Union placed under Signal 2 as ‘Jolina’ heads for Isabela, Aurora

La Union is the latest to be placed under signal number 2 as Tropical Storm Jolina intensifies as
it heads toward Isabela and Aurora on Friday, according to the state weather bureau.
In its latest weather bulletin as of 11 a.m., Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Jolina has intensified as it moves toward
Isabela and Aurora.

Duterte fires rifle toward IS-linked

militants during Marawi visit

President Rodrigo Duterte fired a rifle toward Islamic State-linked militants during a visit
Thursday to the battle zone in southern Marawi, after troops recaptured a main mosque
where the gunmen had taken cover with their hostages in the three-month siege of the
city, officials said.
Clad in a combat uniform, protective vest and helmet, Duterte congratulated the troops
for regaining control of the Islamic Center, an indication they are entering the final stage
in ending the disastrous uprising. It was Duterte’s third known trip to the embattled city.
During his brief visit, Duterte inspected a devastated community near the frontline and
talked to troops guarding a recaptured building. He also visited a military patrol base and
“tried a sniper rifle and fired twice toward the direction of the terrorists,” a government
statement said.
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Army Col. Romeo Brawner said Duterte went to the main battle area, a cluster of dense,
mosque-dotted communities which has been heavily damaged in the fighting, with
military chief Gen. Eduardo Ano and top commanders.
More than 760 people, including 595 militants, have died in the Marawi fighting, which
has sparked concerns that the Islamic State group may have taken a foothold in
Southeast Asia through local extremists as it suffers battle setbacks in Syria and Iraq.

Faeldon links Lacson, son to

cement smuggling
TAYTAY, RIZAL—A day after Sen. Panfilo Lacson named him as among the corrupt officials
in the Bureau of Customs (BOC), outgoing Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon fired back
at Lacson, accusing the senator and his son of cement smuggling.
Faeldon, in a press conference near his home in Barangay Dolores in Taytay, Rizal province,
said the senator’s son and namesake, Panfilo Lacson Jr., was the managing director of
Bonjourno Trading, a company that the customs commissioner said was cited as the “No. 1
smuggler of cement in the country” by the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines
(CeMAP) Inc.
Lacson, however, said Faeldon should have filed charges against his son if he had a case against
the latter.
“If my son is guilty or he is into smuggling, I will be the one and not (Faeldon) to file a case
against him,” Lacson said in a news conference, which he called after the resigned BOC chief
made the public accusations.
He said his son had denied any wrongdoing.