The inclusion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired Maute Group in the U.S. list of foreign terror groups was a “positive” development in the global fight against terrorism, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
The U.S. State Department had listed the Maute Group, which laid siege to Marawi City for almost five months, as an affiliate of the terror group ISIS.
“The official designation of the Maute Group as an affiliate group of ISIS and its inclusion in the US list of foreign terrorist organizations are positive developments in the campaign against terrorism,” Presidential Spokesperon Harry Roque said in a statement.
“This reaffirms our long-held belief that the Maute Group is composed of local terrorists aided by foreign extremists,” he added.
The U.S. terror list, which includes the Maute Group, “recognizes the decisive action” of the Philippine government in liberating Marawi City from the local terror group, Roque said.
“Terrorism, indeed, knows no borders and the inclusion of the Maute Group in the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists and Foreign Terrorist Organizations as an affiliate group of ISIS shows the solidarity and resolve of the international community to flush out evil forces to make the world safe and secure,” Roque added. /muf