THE ONGOING fire fight between the military and remnants of the Maute group in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur has displaced more than 1,500 families within the town and surrounding areas, based on initial reports from the ground.
The Lanao del Sur provincial government, in updates posted on its official Facebook page, reported that the Philippine army’s pursuit of Maute members escalated on Sunday, June 17.
The Maute is a local group of extremists that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) and led the Marawi City siege last year.
“As part of the military’s pursuit operation against local terrorists, they initiated air strikes and artillery fires three days ago before their ground troops assaulted the ISIS-Maute position in the boundary of the municipalities of Tubaran and Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur. There are no official reports yet as to the number of wounded people and casualties,” the provincial government said.
Affected families from Tubaran were estimated at 500; Pagayawan, 255; and Binidayan, 810.
Governor Bedjoria Soraya Alonto Adiong has ordered the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to closely coordinate with all its municipal counterparts for humanitarian response and assistance.
TARGET
Colonel Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., deputy commander of Joint Task Force Marawi, said security forces conducted air and ground assaults in a bid to flush out Maute rebels and the group’s new leader.
Mr. Brawner said he could not confirm if there had been any casualties in military operations in two towns near Marawi City, which is now undergoing rehabilitation with some residents returning to their homes.
The military was targeting Abu Dar, who the government believes is the new “emir” of Islamic State in Southeast Asia, Mr. Brawner said.
It could not be independently verified if the Islamic State has chosen Dar as its new leader in the region.
Islamic State-inspired militants seized parts of the southern city of Marawi in May 2017, raising concerns about the influence of the extremist group in Southeast Asia.
The army ended combat operations after wresting control in southern Marawi in October, and has shifted its focus to the island’s marshes where other pro-IS militants operate.
The siege of Marawi, the country’s biggest battle since World War 2, displaced some 350,000 residents and more than 1,100 people were killed, mostly militants.
Military and security experts have said militants who escaped from Marawi are recruiting fighters using looted cash, gold and jewelry worth tens of millions of dollars.
MARTIAL LAW
Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr., meanwhile, said this latest clash is “proof” that there are still enemies in Mindanao and that martial law should remain.
At the same time, he said these extremists groups are now a spent force.
“But it is no cause for worry because their forces are now few,” Mr. Roque said in Filipino during a briefing in Malacañang Monday, June 18.
He admitted, however, that it is bothersome that the Maute group has seemingly found a “successor” who stands as their leader, and they have managed to fight back against members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Nonetheless, Mr. Roque assured the public, particularly those in Lanao del Sur, that the “AFP is ready to protect civilians against the Maute group.” —Mindanao Bureau with reports from Reuters and Arjay L. Balinbin

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