‘ABU DAR’ IS MAUTE’S LAST REMAINING LEADER

OWAYTA Benito Marohombsar, or “Abu Dar,” is the only remaining “significant figure” in the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute group that attacked Marawi City last year, Armed Forces chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Thursday. Galvez however said military intelligence had yet to validate if Marohombsar indeed succeeded Isnilon Hapilon as the Southeast Asian “emir” of the IS.

The military chief’s remarks came in the wake of reports that Marohombsar replaced Hapilon in the IS leadership after the latter was killed during the Marawi siege last year.

The Philippine Army earlier revealed that IS sleeper cells had been planted across the country and could

long siege of Marawi City.

Galvez claimed that support for the Maute group was “waning.”

“Previously, [10 members surrendered], but after the President talked, spoke with them, it [increased] to 42 surrenderers and they are included in the most wanted list,” he told reporters in Marawi City.

The Maute members were presented to President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this month. Duterte told the former terrorists they were welcome to visit Malacañang.

Galvez said Marohombsar was among the planners of the Marawi siege, alongside the Maute brothers and Hapilon.

The Maute brothers – Omarkhayam, Maddie, Ottoh and Abdullah – were all killed during the crisis.

Galvez warned of ongoing recruitment efforts being conducted by the Maute remnants in Mindanao.

“But we believe that our counternarrative is being strengthened and we saw that there are lot of people even from other terror groups such as the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) and ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) [surrendering to us],” he said.

“We see that there is a snowball of surrenders,” he claimed.