Aguirre rejects negotiations with Maute terrorists | ABS-CBN

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Aguirre rejects negotiations with Maute terrorists

Aguirre rejects negotiations with Maute terrorists

Ina Reformina,

ABS-CBN News

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MANILA - "The government never negotiates with terrorists!"

This was the reaction of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II Tuesday to a reported offer of the terrorist Maute group to free a Catholic priest in exchange for the release of Cayamora and Ominta "Farhana" Maute, parents of Abdullah and Omarkhayam Maute, known to be behind the protracted siege in Marawi City.

It was Abdullah who reportedly made the offer, conveyed to Muslim religious leaders who entered the conflict zone over the weekend during an 8-hour ceasefire initiated by the military in light of the feast of Eid'l Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Fr. Teresito "Chito" Suganob has been held by the Islamic State-linked local terror group for over a month now. He was taken by the Maute group on May 23, the day the siege on the Philippines' only Islamic city began.

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That the same evening, President Rodrigo Duterte put the entire Mindanao island under martial rule and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for 60 days to quell the rebellion.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it was not aware of the Maute group's so-called offer for a prisoner swap.

The Palace, meanwhile, has said government's policy against negotiating with terrorists "remains," and that any demand made during the supposed talks on Sunday "holds no basis."

Cayamora and Farhana Maute are facing rebellion charges in connection with the attacks on Marawi City and have been flown to Manila. They are currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The battle for control of the city has entered its 35th day, with over 300 dead. Thousands of families have fled the fighting and evacuated to neighboring cities and towns.

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