The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed that they have monitored ‘remnants’ of the Maute-ISIS group to be recruiting new members since the five-month war in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur ended October 23.
The confirmation came days after President Rodrigo Duterte’s martial law in Mindanao was extended due to reported terrorist recruitment and existence of other lawless elements.
Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
At the Task Force Bangon Marawi press briefing in Malacañang Friday, AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said the recruitment they have monitored was being conducted in municipalities near Marawi City.
“Here we can see that they are trying to intensify their forces through their continued recruitment),” Arevalo said in the vernacular.
The new AFP spokesperson said the terrorist group is still offering financial remunerations, but did not mention any exact amount. He, however, doubts whether or not the terrorists were able to really give the promised amount.
Arevalo said their monitoring was based on the reports of citizens in the locality. “Definitely they are not recruiting in the open.”
He said that the recruitment has been happening since Marawi City was liberated. He said these recruiters are still using social media to reach out.
“There are recruitment videos. I’m sure you have come across such,” he said. “Part of our work is to communicate with Facebook that such a post — if it’s on Facebook — be barred or removed.”
“If it’s in the nature of a recruitment of a terrorist group then that could be a valid ground,” he continued.
However, Arevalo had no data yet confirming whether arrests were made against these reported recruiters.
He added that these recruiters are possibly the ones who were able to escape from Marawi city as the war was ending.
Arevalo said that these recruiters are targeting the family members of their slain members, children, and women.
“The youth is the one they prefer to recruit because these are the sectors of our society that are, could be considered vulnerable,” he said.
“They are gullible. They can be easily fooled into joining their group by making false promises,” he added.
Turaife group
Meanwhile, Arevalo said the assessment of the AFP that a certain Abu Turaife is the successor of Isnilon Hapilon who was killed by the military mid-October in Marawi City is with basis.
Hapilon, the leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group, is said to be the emir of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Philippines.
“That is an assessment that he could be the successor of Isnilon Hapilon. It is of real basis based on our operating units in the field,” Arevalo said.
He added that based on AFP record, the Turaife group has 22 identified members.
“We cannot underestimate the group just because they only have 22 members).
“We cannot discount their ability to recruit, their mobility, the arms that they have, and their capability to conduct terrorist activities).
“After all, there is no need for a large number of people to bomb a vital installation or institution, or a public place,” he continued.
The Turaife group was cited in Duterte’s letter to the Congress as one of the reasons to extend the martial law in Mindanao. The martial law, which was declared to address the war in Marawi City, will now expire on December 31, 2018.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/12/15/maute-isis-remnants-recruiting-post-marawi-siege-afp/
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