City put on lockdown
> Rebels trying to infiltrate Iligan: Philippine military
MANILA: The Philippine city of Iligan was overflowing with evacuees and on lockdown yesterday over fears militants had sneaked out of nearby Marawi, where troops were battling to drive out gunmen holed up in buildings for a seventh day.
The fighting in the city of Marawi with pro-Islamic State (IS) militants of the Maute group is the biggest security challenge of Rodrigo Duterte’s 11-month presidency, with gunmen still holding parts of the city and fending off helicopter air strikes and ground attacks by commandos.
Most of Marawi’s 200,000 people have left, many pouring into Iligan, 38km away, where authorities said they were stretched to the limit and worried that Maute fighters were blending in with the displaced and could launch attacks.
“We don’t want what’s happening in Marawi to spill over in Iligan,” said Colonel Alex Aduca, chief of the Fourth Mechanised Infantry Battalion.
“We want to ensure the safety of people here, to prevent elements from entering and conducting terroristic activities,” he told DZMM radio.
He said some rebels had been caught trying to get into Iligan, but did not give details.
Sixty-one militants, 20 members of the security forces and 19 civilians have been killed since last week, when Maute rebels went on the rampage in Marawi after a botched attempt by the military to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, who the government believes is a point man for IS in the Philippines.
The ability of the Maute group to fight off the military for so long will add to fears that IS radical ideology is spreading in the southern Philippines, and it could become a haven for militants from Indonesia, Malaysia and beyond.
The military believes the Maute carried out their assault before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to capture the attention of IS and earn its recognition as a Southeast Asian affiliate.
Witnesses in Marawi said they had seen militants flying the IS flag and wearing black outfits and headbands typical of it.
Troops on the streets of Marawi fired at Maute snipers as smoke poured out of several buildings.
Trucks loaded with marines arrived to reinforce soldiers guarding deserted streets as helicopters circulated above the lakeside city surrounded by jungle-clad hills.
The military said the Maute group was still present in nine of the city’s 96 Barangays, or communities. – Reuters