Philippines: 11 Daesh-inspired fighters dead in clashes

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines

At least eleven Daesh-inspired militants have been killed in clashes that broke out after the “Maute group” occupied part of a town in the majority Muslim southern province of Lanao del Sur, according to the military Sunday.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said in a statement, “the recent action of the lawless Maute Group in occupying an abandoned portion of Butig Municipality has driven the people from other areas of the town to flee their homes."

He added, “two soldiers were slightly wounded while eleven members of Maute Group were killed and at least five wounded."

The Maute group, believed to have around 200 members, had occupied Butig earlier this year, only to be flushed out by the military.

Tan said the group hoisted a Daesh flag at an old municipal building -- which was among several buildings and homes overran by its members Saturday.

"They raised the ISIS [Daesh] flag which was expected since they have long been professing allegiance to the foreign terror group… this is still part of the Maute Group’s agenda in courting support and encouraging similar minded individuals to support ISIS,” he underlined.

He said security forces would continue battling the group and disrupting its activities to prevent the situation from escalating or spilling to other areas.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs chief, said in the same statement that residents who remain in the area should evacuate as clashes are expected to last through the week.

On Saturday, the military said two SF260 air force planes had dropped bombs to support troops attempting to recapture buildings overran by the group.

Last month, authorities arrested three Maute members accused of involvement in a September bombing that left 15 people dead in southern Davao City -- President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown.

The military has described the group as being linked to the Abu Sayyaf.

The Abu Sayyaf is one of two larger militant groups in the south who have pledged allegiance to Daesh, prompting fears during a stall of a peace process between the government and the country’s one-time largest Moro rebel front that it could make inroads in a region torn by decades of armed conflict.