Adiong vows no repeat of Marawi siege as gov’t pursues Maute remnants

CITY IN RUINS In this photo taken on Oct. 8, 2017, soldiers patrol a section of the city center of Marawi as government forces continue to battle members of Islamic State-linked groups that laid siege to the provincial capital of Lanao del Sur. —JEOFFREY MAITEM

MANILA, Philippines — Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong has assured the public that there would be no repeat of the Marawi siege despite an incident between Maute group remnants and the military, saying that government forces and local governments are actively pursuing the terrorists.

Adiong in a briefing on Tuesday explained that the support of local government units (LGUs) is crucial to law enforcement agencies and military institutions tracking down Maute Group fighters involved in the recent clash with the military.

Six Scout Rangers and three alleged fighters of the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group  (DI-MG) were killed in an encounter in Lanao del Norte’s Munai town last February 25, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

READ: 6 soldiers killed in clash with terrorists in Lanao 

“With the support of the LGUs, we’ve seen how we were able to liberate Marawi City. And I don’t see any reason why the same problem again may pop up in the future,” Adiong, who chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation and Victims Compensation, told reporters at the House complex.

The lawmaker also said that the best way to deter public fear about the incident is to show that the government is in control of the situation — which happened as Brawner himself visited the area.

“I saw that after what happened in Lanao del Norte, the chief-of-staff himself went there to condole bereaved families.  And then there are additional deployments in the area to secure it.  Because the military and the police, they already have an idea as to where the remnants would run towards,” Adiong said.

“That’s why it’s important, based on our experience, is the engagement of our security sector with the LGUs down to the barangays.  We need to have a stronger presence there and the intelligence gathering is of prime importance.  Because if we have a good intelligence gathering and we get correct intel, resources are not wasted,” he added.

Reports from the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division (1ID) stated that troops of the scout platoon of the 44th Infantry Battalion were on a military operation when they encountered DI-MG

After a two-hour gunfight, the terrorists withdrew toward the direction of Lanao del Sur province.  Five soldiers were left wounded.

READ: Six soldiers, three Maute fighters killed in Lanao del Norte clash 

The Maute Group is the same organization that laid Marawi City — a vibrant Islamic City which is the capital of Lanao del Sur — to siege.  Intense fighting between military forces and Maute members lasted for five months, but left a large-scale humanitarian crisis with over 300,000 residents displaced.

READ: 4 years after siege, Marawi folk desperate to trek back home 

Despite the affiliation with Maute, Adiong said the recent clash between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the DI-MG might be an isolated incident.

“If you go anywhere in Mindanao, all areas in Mindanao, okay naman…relatively peaceful,” he expressed.  “And there’s an ongoing military operation against the remnants. Remember, ISIS, it’s not a homegrown terrorist organization. This is an imported ideology.”

“That’s why we can see even if the 2017 Marawi siege is finished they are still there.  Because they’ve been, you know, I don’t know how the military is handling this but I’m pretty sure they know exactly how the funds are coming in,” he added. With reports from Barbara Gutierrez, INQUIRER.net intern