A local leader known for his heroic act during the deadly Marawi siege four years ago has died. Agakhan Sharief who negotiated for the release of 255 people trapped in the middle of a fierce battle between government forces and Maute terrorists, died Tuesday, May 25. He was 49. Sharief was said to
Froilan Gallardo/BenarNews
Philippine peace activist and Marawi tribal leader Agakhan Sharief, who rescued more than 200 trapped civilians during a siege of the southern city by Islamic State-linked militants in 2017, died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.
Sharief, 49, who was popularly known as “Bin Laden” because of his flowing beard that resembled that of the dead terrorist leader, brokered a ceasefire between state forces and the militants so that 255 civilians could escape.
“His heart finally gave up at around 1:25 a.m.,” said Tirmizy Esmael Abdullah, Sharief’s colleague and a coordinator for the Interfaith Cooperation Forum.
“We are grieving the loss of a great street parliamentarian of our people.”