Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) admitted on Friday some members of the Maute terror group may have made their way to other cities in Northern Mindanao.
“Hindi po natin dine-deny na maaaring merong iilan na nakalusot sa patuloy na pag-alis ng ilang mga evacuees sa Marawi papunta sa ibang karatig lugar tulad ng Iligan at Cagayan de Oro. So itong mga individual na ‘to, maaaring nakalusot,” said AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla in a press briefing.
[Translation: We are not denying the possibility that there are some that snuck in with the Marawi evacuees going to the neighbor cities such as Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. These individuals may have slipped through.]
Following the firefights in Marawi that started on May 23, over 300,000 residents have been taking refuge in evacuation centers located in nearby cities such as Iligan in Lanao de Norte and Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental. Officials say around 600 civilians are still trapped in Marawi, waiting to be rescued.
As the authorities could not monitor every single evacuee, the military has heightened security in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro to monitor and track down possible members of the Maute group that may have immersed themselves in the communities.
“Safe to say, I can tell you, they don’t have the capacity to do what they did in Marawi anymore. Their capabilities have been significantly degraded…So any kind of action of that extent will not happen in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro,” Padilla said.
The Armed Forces, however, stressed that for the security measures to work, residents must cooperate by reporting suspicious people or movements.
Padilla also denied reports saying some 300 armed men were spotted in Lanao del Norte, as it may just be part of the disinformation being spread by the enemy.
He added despite the absence of President Rodrigo Duterte in the past few days, Defense Secretary and martial law administrator Delfin Lorenzana and AFP Chief of Staff Eduardo Año continue to get regular guidance from the commander-in-chief.
With relief supplies both from government and private organizations continuously coming in, the AFP also reminded private donors to refrain from delivering supplies to evacuees themselves. Former Congressman Teddy Casiño had earlier tried to bring relief to Saguiaran municipality in Lanao del Sur but was stopped at a checkpoint.
“You need not personally deliver them by yourself because you will unnecessarily put yourselves in the danger areas. Your being good Samaritans is well-acknowledged and your help will definitely get where it is intended and that is guaranteed,” Padilla said.
According to the Presidential Communications Operations Office Director Omar Romero, the government has extended assistance amounting to P98.8 million.
He also revealed in the same press briefing that the casualty count on the government forces has increased to 59, while the number of those killed on the enemy side is now at 225.
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said authorities have arrested a member of the Maute group listed in the first arrest order issued by Lorenzana on June 1.
“Maute bomber Mohammad Noaim Maute, alias Abu Jadid, who is in the Arrest Order issued by the Department of National Defense, has been arrested in Cagayan de Oro as of yesterday morning,” Abella said.
The Presidential spokesperson said the arrest is a step closer to liberating Marawi.
“This, we consider a positive development in our campaign to end rebellion in Marawi to flush out evil forces and to bring peace to the island of Mindanao,” Abella said.
