ILIGAN CITY – Security forces continue to monitor Filipino militants whose group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State following the recent capture of a sub-leader of the Maute Group in the Philippine capital, officials said Monday.
Officials said Abdul Nasser Lomondot, who was captured in Manila’s downtown area, took part in last year’s deadly siege of Marawi in Lanao del Sur, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. An automatic pistol was also seized from him. He was among the planners of the siege, along with Abu Sayyaf chieftain Isnilon Hapilon.
Military photos released to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner show Abdul Nasser Lomondot.
“Lomondot is a Maute Group sub-leader who took part in the Marawi rebellion during which he participated in the killing of innocent Christian civilians and committed violence against female and child hostages. He was one of the key planners in the attack of Marantao, Lanao del Sur during the Marawi rebellion. He underwent combat training in Butig, Lanao del Sur along with other Daesh members,” said Major Ronald Suscano, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division.
Although all of the leaders of the Maute Group and Hapilon were killed in the battle of Marawi that lasted over 5 months, Suscano said other members who managed to escape the military offensive were scatted into smaller groups and went into hiding in the province.
He said the remnant of the Maute Group were recruiting members and holding trainings in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao province, also in the autonomous region.
“Since the death last year of Isnilon Hapilon, the established Amir of Maute-Daesh in Southeast Asia region, the remnants of the group were scattered into small groups and went into hiding at selected areas of Lanao del Sur. They were also monitored recruiting and conducting trainings particularly in the boundaries of Lanao and Maguindanao areas where they enjoy a certain level of civilian support,” Suscano said.
Major General Roseller Murillo, army division commander, said the intensified campaign against militants in Mindanao helped in capturing militants and information they gave authorities were essentially important in fighting terrorism.
“Our recent successes and apprehensions have been yielding valuable information that allows authorities to further hunt down the remnants of the group. More so, these successes clearly indicate their dwindling organizational leadership and capabilities,” Murillo said. “The government forces will continue to intensify its internal security operations to neutralize the remnants of terrorist groups in Lanao del Sur.”
The military earlier said that militants fleeing Iraq and Syria managed to enter the country and may be planning attacks alongside their local counterparts. (Mindanao Examiner)
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