100 IS militants spotted in Buldon, Maguindanao – MILF

A Soldier walks inside a house with Islamic State markings indicating it had been occupied by terrorists in Marawi City. —JEOFFREY MAITEM

Published: 11:32 p.m., Sept. 1, 2017 | Updated: 11:51 p.m., Sept. 2, 2017

MARAWI CITY — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) confirmed on Saturday President Duterte’s claim that violence may spread outside of Marawi City which has been under siege for 102 days.

MILF spokesperson Von Al Haq told the Inquirer by phone that their units confirmed the presence of around 100 armed men, believed to be Islamic State (IS) militants, in the mountainous town of Buldon, Maguindanao.

Buldon, about 61 kilometers south of this lakeside city, is one of three towns at the border of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

Al Haq said they were uncertain whether the armed men were planning to reinforce Maute gunmen here or “heading to Butig town because it’s just near Buldon or in Maguindanao.”

The Lanao del Sur town of Butig, only 35 kilometers on the opposite side Lake Lanao, is the burial place of MILF founder Hashim Salamat and birthplace of the Maute group.

The military claimed Cayamora Maute was once an MILF fighter who was expelled for grave misconduct and this led to the formation of the Maute group that is now led by his sons, Abdullah and Omar.

The MILF offered to help the government fight the Maute group after it was criticized for spawning the jihadist group.

But Al Haq said the MILF could not just confront the gunmen in Buldon because their units were already engaged in fighting IS-linked militants in other Maguindanao towns since Aug. 10.

“We cannot just mobilize our forces to hunt down these militants because we also have an ongoing campaign in other parts of Maguindanao. We need resources and bullets,” Al Haq said.

The MILF’s revelation reinforced the military’s claim that militants from other areas were trying to enter the city to reinforce their beleaguered comrades.

The military had earlier said the terrorists in Marawi were already confined to an area of 500 square meters and the fighting was expected to end before December.

The progress of the military operations spurred President Duterte to say that he had been thinking of lifting martial law in Mindanao earlier than its December expiration.

“I was thinking that we could lift it earlier. But it looks like it may spill over to [the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao], in Buldon,” Duterte said during the anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City on Friday.

Last Monday, the military killed 10 gunmen who were purportedly trying to enter the main battle area through Lake Lanao.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said the 10 suspected IS militants were on two pump boats and were intercepted by elements of Joint Task Group Lawa.

“The recent accomplishment of our ground forces only showed the successful coordination made by our troops and the local government units,” Galvez said.

“The plan of the terrorists was earlier reported to us. That is why it was easier for patrolling special forces riverine units and maritime policemen to detect and neutralize the movement,” he said.

Since the fighting started on May 23, the government already lost 136 soldiers and policemen.

Forty-five civilians were also killed in the battle that saw the displacement of nearly half a million people from the city and nearby areas.

The military said the militants were still holding some 70 hostages, including Catholic priest Teresito Suganob.