DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said they believe that the Maute brothers and Isnilon Hapilon are still alive and are still in Marawi City.
"May balitang namatay sila pero wala naman kaming evidence na patay (There are reports that they're dead but we don't have evidence), we assume nabuhay sila (Maute brothers are alive), sila ang namumuno (they are leading) sa resistance against the military," Lorenzana said.
There have been earlier reports that the Maute brothers, Omar and Madie, were killed in a firefight with the army in Marawi City. However, these reports are still being confirmed and verified by the army.
Lorezana said the implementation of Martial Law have been effective adding that authorities in Davao City and in other areas are very vigilant against escaping terrorists.
"Maganda (ang implementation ng martial law) kasi alam ko ang military at mga police hindi sila nagrerelax mahigpit ang kanilang vigilance kasi nakikita ko nagtatakasan na sila sa Lanao Sur at tsaka nahuhuli (The martial law implementation is effective because the military and the police are not complacent and there a lot of the Maute who are now trying to escape while others were already arrested)," he said.
Lorenzana said this is evident in the arrest of Maute patriarch Cayamora Maute at a checkpoint in Davao City and a certain Boy Salik who was arrested in Villanueva.
He said it only means that they are trying to escape from Lanao del Sur to hide in another place.
Lorenzana said the martial law implementation is "very mild" compared to the Marcos administration.
He said they have listed 300 persons under their watch list but if ever these persons are arrested and they cannot file charges in three days then the person can't be detained.
He said they have arrested around 20 persons from their watch list.
He said members of the Maute clan are part of the list, adding that they cannot discount the possibility that other relatives of the Maute are staying in areas within Davao City.
"I believe so, so kung nandito ang tatay nila then may mga kamag-anak na sila dito (if their father is here, then their relatives will be here too), maybe hindi active participants but they are active supporters," he added.
He said the Arrest Order number one, includes many Maute members and they rely on the security officer to give their names.
He said terrorists may also seek shelter in Muslim communities where they have relatives.
Lorenzana, meanwhile, said the huge amount of money confiscated by the military in Marawi is being investigated by the Department of Finance and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
"Tinitingnan nila ang code, saan galing at kailan nakuha ang pera at sinong nagrelease, so makikita natin sinong bangko yung nagrelease ng ganoon karaming pera (They're looking at the codes to determine where and when it was withdrawn and who released it. We will see which bank released such big amount of cash)," he said.
He added they requested the Anti-Money Laundering Act on the list of persons who have arrest warrant under their office.