Five Maute-ISIS members killed in fierce gun battle with gov’t troops
ILIGAN CITY – At least five members of the Maute-ISIS group led by Owayda Benito Marohombsar alias Abu Dar were reportedly killed in a fierce firefight between government troops and remnants of the terrorist group.
Joint Task Force Ranao Deputy Commander Romeo Brawner. Jr, said the firefight that happened in Tubaran, Lanao Del Sur on Sunday, June 17, is part of the fulfillment of the promise of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to go after the remnants of the Maute-ISIS group.
He said this was the result of monthslong intelligence operations as well as the cooperation of the local government and the citizens.
“We are asking the public to stay calm. The 103rd Infantry Brigade is making sure that the hostilities will not extend beyond the mountainous areas of Tubaran and Pagayawan of Lanao del Sur,” Brawner said.
“Matagal na, ito na iyong pinaplano nating operasyon, minanmanan sa lugar at three days ago naka-position na mga tropa, at na-determine natin kahapon ng umaga,” he said.
Brawner said ground assault operation against Abu Dar is ongoing while the air asset is on standby. He added that there were no residents in the airstrike area as the encounter is in the mountain side.
As of this time the military did not set the date when to end this yet, “depende lang sa result ng ground operations,” Brawner added.
Provincial Information Officer Jennie Tamano said barangays in two municipalities of Tubaran and Pagayawan were affected and residents were evacuated.
Casamila Sedic, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) of the Municipality of Tubaran said the affected barangays are Wago, Guiarong Tubaran, Malaganding, Tubaran Proper, Madaya, Gaput, Dinaigan, and Alog.
An estimated 500 families have already been evacuated and are now staying in Tangkal Elementary School and National High School. The rest are in the Multipurpose building of Malaganding.
From the MSWDO of Pagayawan, around 255 families were displaced and out of this, 57 are now in evacuation centers in Toril and Tent EC (evacuation centers).
According to reports, almost half of the population of the said barangays has evacuated. There are some who were trapped in Barangays Padas and Diampaca pending military clearance.
Among the barangays affected in Pagayawan are Padas, Guiarong Pagayawan, Linindingan, Diampaca, Bangon, and Madang.
Mayor Abdullah Datumulok of Binidayan town said 723 families (3,571 individuals) from Tubaran and Pagayawan have been given assistance.
Governor Bedjoria Soraya Alonto Adiong immediately ordered the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to provide all the necessary humanitarian response and assistance to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected.
She also ordered the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office to prepare relief goods to be distributed to the IDPs once there is clearance from the AFP stating that it is safe to go to Tubaran, Pagayawan and other affected areas, Tamano said.
Governor Adiong is asking her constituents to remain calm and to pray for everyone’s safety.
Abu Dar Marohombsar was one of the ten leaders who planned the attack in Marawi last year.
The video footage of the group planning the attack was recovered by the military from the laptop of the militants at Isnilon Hapilon’s apartment in barangay Basak Malutlut in Marawi at the start of the firefight.
He has been in the terror wanted list of the AFP and has a R3-million bounty on his head.
He is said to be the appointed emir (leader) of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia replacing Abu Sayaff leader Isnilon Hapilon who was killed in the five-month war in Marawi.
A source from the military intelligence community said Abu Dar was involved in the 2012 and 2013 bombings in Cagayan de Oro City that left over a dozen of people and wounded scores others.
He was also the alleged mastermind in the August 5, 2013 car bombing in Cotabato City that killed at least eight people and maimed 40 others.
‘Be very precise’ The military has yet to release reports on the Lanao del Sur operations, even as local humanitarian quarters called on soldiers to be “very precise” in their combat actions to avoid “undue collateral damages on the civilians and their properties.”
“Please spare us from the magnitude of devastations that happened in Marawi City and are happening in areas of Maguindanao and North Cotabato,” a teacherevacuee, who asked not to be named, said in an appeal.