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Southeast Asia
Philippines on alert for attack by pro-Daesh militants
2018-03-07
[ARABNEWS] Philippine security forces are keeping a close watch on all major cities, including Manila, amid reports that gunnies from a pro-ISIS alliance behind last year’s Marawi siege are planning another attack, a military front man said on Tuesday.

The alert comes as the government acknowledges that although the military suppressed the rebellion by ISIS-inspired Maute gunnies and liberated Marawi City after nearly five months of fighting last year, the threat of insurgency remains.

In a press briefing, Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Datuin, front man for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said that there was still a possibility of increased terrorist activity on Mindanao island in the southern Philippines.

He said that all reports of activities of myrmidon groups in the country were being taken very seriously.

"We have complete and continuous monitoring by the Coast Guard, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police. And of course, we have the trilateral and bilateral conventions and protocols and agreements with other countries, so we are doing continuous aerial and coastal monitoring," Datuin said.

The army statement came in the wake of reports that remnants of the Maute group who escaped before the military retook Marawi City last October are "regrouping, retraining and recruiting for another attack."

Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista, the Philippines Army chief, earlier said that gunnies who had escaped the battle in Marawi with huge sums of cash looted from homes were using the funds to recruit new members and re-arm, and to possibly stage similar attacks.

"The recruitment continues, meaning when there is recruitment there is still a possibility that they will besiege another city, not necessarily Marawi City. That is a big possibility," he told news hounds.

On Monday, Maj. Ronald Suscano, front man for the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said the Maute remnants broke into smaller groups, with some slipping into the capital Manila to carry out bombings.

During the weekend, joint military and police teams placed in durance vile
... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not...
Abdul Nasser Lomondot, a sub-leader of the Maute Group in Manila. Lomondot was reportedly involved in violent activities perpetrated by the myrmidon group, including in the planning of Marawi siege. He was arrested with fellow Maute member Rizasalam Lomondot.

In February, authorities also arrested Fehmi Lassoued, alias John Rasheed Lassoned, an Egyptian who is said to be a high-ranking member of ISIS. Lassoued was arrested after police and military intelligence teams raided an apartment in Manila.

"Anything is possible," said Datuin, adding that the government security forces were closely monitoring all city and urban areas to thwart myrmidon attacks, especially during the Holy Week. "We have a standing order to prevent terroristic acts from happening in these critical days," he said.

The US last week described the Maute Group and the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
in the Philippines (ISP) as globally designated terrorist organizations.
Posted by:Fred

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