Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has confirmed that ISIS Emir in Southeast Asia Isnilon Hapilon and Maute leader Omar Maute are dead.
Lorenzana made the confirmation during a brief press conference just before noon on Monday.
He said the two terrorist leaders were killed in a military operation early Monday morning.
Prior to this, he said a woman-tipster informed the military that Hapilon and Maute were indeed in the building in the main battle area where government forces conducted an operation.
17 hostages were also rescued, including a two-month old baby.
Lorenzana said government will announce the cessation of hostilities in Marawi City next week.
He however noted the deaths of the Hapilon and Maute will not result in the lifting of Martial Law in Mindanao.
Lorenzana said a reward of five million pesos will be given to the person who helped the military in locating Maute.
He added the reward for the arrest of Hapilon amounts to 5 million dollars from US government and another 10 million pesos from the Philippine government.
Lorenzana and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Eduardo Ano are flying to Marawi City today.