Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday said experts and even the Muslim community in Marawi City don't see the connection of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict to the most recent  "heinous act" in the Mindanao State University. 

"Talking with experts and analyst, even the local Muslim leaders, sinasabi po nila na hindi sila naniniwala na connected ito doon sa nangyayaro ngayon between the Israel at Hamas," Brawner said in a press conference held at the headquarters of the Philippine Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade in Marawi City.

Brawner said one of the local leaders in Lanao del Sur said he doesn't believe in the idea that the Marawi bombing might have links to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. 

"Sabi niya: 'In the past, nagkakaroon naman ng gyera sa Middle East, pero wala naman pong nangyayari dito.' So sabi nila malayo na may connection 'iyon," he said. "But, we are not also discounting that. We are looking at every angle on this."

Brawner reiterated Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr.'s earlier remarks that there's a "strong indication" that foreign elements might be involved in the recent bombing attack in Marawi City.

"We cannot really say for sure whether these are foreigners coming to our country and doing the attack or whether these are affiliated terroristic groups or even foreign directed. So we are looking at everything. We cannot be conclusive at this time," he added.

Brawner also stressed that the security forces are looking at the "retaliation" theory after the series of military operations against the militant group Daulah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf Group. 

"That is the belief so far during our pre-Command Conference we had this morning," he said. 

Asked should the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS had something to do with the Marawi bombing incident, the AFP chief said the security forces are not ruling out every angle that could led to the bomb attack.

Brawner recalled that the Marawi siege in 2017 happened due to the influence of the Daulah Islamiyyah and ISIS on the local terrorist Maute group.

"We are not disclaiming that possibility that the incident has links towards an international ISIS [activity]," he said.