Philippines' military has killed two top leaders of ISIL-backed militant groups in southern Marawi City. One of the leaders is listed among the FBI's most-wanted terror suspects. Their bodies were found on Monday. The two are the final surviving leaders in the Marawi area, after three other ISIL-linked leaders were killed in September. CGTN's Barnaby Lo has the latest from Marawi City.

 

BARNABY LO MARAWI CITY The Philippine military scored a huge victory in the battle for Marawi on Monday. Ground troops killed the two top leaders of the ISIL-backed militant group that has been fighting the military for almost five months now. At a press conference on Monday. 

 

The country's armed forces chief of staff General Eduardo Año and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana showed photos of corpses of Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute, both of whom were believed to have been directing the militant group's movements the past four to five months here in Marawi. 

 

BARNABY LO MARAWI CITY They believe the death of the two militant leaders has significantly debilitated their enemies and that it could mean impending victory for the Philippine government.  

 

GEN. EDUARDO ANO CHIEF OF STAFF, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES Today, with the unwavering support of the government and the people, we have ripped the budding terrorism, stamped out the leaders of the Daesh-inspired terrorist group and made an unequivocal statement-we will not allow terrorism to reign in Marawi City or elsewhere in the country. 

 

BARNABY LO MARAWI CITY  Now while both officials appeared relieved and rearing to declare a win, they say there is no place for complacency yet because for one, here in Marawi, it ain't over until it's over. There were still around 30 terrorists fighting the military as of Monday afternoon, they said, and they're still holding more than 20 hostages, and in fact we've been hearing sporadic gunshots. So the battle continues and government troops they say will not rest until every hostage is rescued, every enemy is either killed or arrested, and every building in Marawi cleared from danger. They also acknowledge the fact that the problem of terrorism in the Philippines doesn't end when they end the war in Marawi. They say they will continue to go after extremist groups in other parts of the Southern Philippines. Barnaby Lo, CGTN, Marawi City in the Southern Philippines.