Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines’ssecurity forces have killed Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the Abu Sayyaf militantgroup, in an assault in the southern city of Marawi.

Hapilon, with alleged link to IslamicState (IS) extremists, is one of the most wanted terrorist leaders in the Philippines,Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on October 21 as citingthe United States FederalBureau of Investigation (FBI).

“We have received an official report thatthe US FBI has confirmed that the DNA sample taken from a body recovered by ouropening units in Marawi matches that of Isnilon Hapilon," said Lorenzana.

The process of verification is also beingconducted on the cadavers of the other terrorists that have been recovered sofar, he added.

The Philippine military killed Hapilon andOmarkhayam Maute during an assault before dawn on October 16.

Earlier, the US State Department hadoffered 5 million USD for the arrest of Hapilon.

Hapilon is the leader of the Abu SayyafGroup, a jihadist organisation in the Philippines founded with funds fromal-Qaeda that also pledged loyalty to IS.

The militant group is behind the spate ofkidnappings and numerous bombing attacks in the Philippines.

Hapilon, along with the Maute brothers,led the May 23 attack on Marawi. The military said IS militants fromneighboring Malaysia and Indonesia also took part in the siege.

More than 1,000 people have been killed inthe conflict that broke out on May 23, prompting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterteto place Mindanao under martial law.

Duterte declared to have liberated Marawifrom the IS militants on October 17.-VNA