Military halts operations vs Maute group in observance of Ramadan

BUTIG, Lanao del Sur—The  military on Friday said it was temporarily halting operations against the Maute group on the 10th day to give way to the observance of the Muslim month of Ramadan.

The fasting month could start on Sunday or Monday, depending on the sighting of the moon.

Col. Roseller Murillo, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, however said the Maute group, the local version of the Khilafah Islamiya Movement (KIM) suffered heavily, with 37 deaths.

He said as of Friday, soldiers had occupied Camp Darul Iman in Barangay Sandab.

The camp formerly belonged to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but had since been occupied by the Maute group, Murillo said.

In February, MILF forces left Camp Darul Iman to give way to a massive military operation then. The Maute group took advantage of the MILF’s absence and used the camp in launching attacks.

Murillo said soldiers had recovered unexploded improvised explosive devices from the camp, along with a flag akin to the one being used by the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq and several other belongings.

Murillo said the Army would continue to monitor the activities of the Maute group and not think twice about pursuing it anew if it committed more crimes—even during Ramadan.