AFP still looking for evidence on foreign jihadists fighting in Marawi City

From the Philippine News Agency (May 30): AFP still looking for evidence on foreign jihadists fighting in Marawi City

While not denying the possibility of foreign jihadists fighting alongside with Maute Group terrorists in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, the military said it is still looking for proof that will justify reports claiming that around 40 of the former are linked up with the lawless elements.

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Tuesday.

"We cannot confirm that yet as they (Maute and foreign jihadists) all look alike. Even the bodies we recovered all look the same and without identification, so we are letting our intelligence (units) processed them (to determine their names and nationalities)," he added in Filipino.

But while Padilla is not discounting the possibility of foreign jihadists in Maute Group ranks, he stressed that concrete evidence is needed to ascertain this.

"We cannot be certain how many there are until such time that we are able to fully process all information that we have been able to gather," he said.

With regards to the six foreign terrorists allegedly killed during last week's fighting, Padilla said the names of these men are still being validated.

He added that information claiming that these men are foreign jihadists are coming from the camp of the Maute Group.

Identifying these individuals will take some time as the AFP intelligence units need to process scores of materials for confirmation purposes.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/992201