Two years after the ISIS-inspired Maute Group laid siege in the Islamic City of Marawi, the terrorist group's force have significantly dwindled, according to the military on Thursday.
"The number of Maute remnants, they're now down to 25," said Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the 103rd Infantry “Haribon” Brigade in a press briefing in Marawi City.
"They will not be capable of launching an attack with the magnitude of what they did here in Marawi City during the Marawi siege," he added.
Brawner, however, said that the state security forces are not letting their guards down as these bandits may still launch "limited attacks."
"Their capabilities are diminished. However, they still can conduct limited terroristic attacks like bombings, they can attack soft targets, and also, they can kill members of the AFP and the PNP," he said.
Further, he said that the support of the international financiers for the Maute Group has already stopped and that this has been a blow to the terrorists' recruiting activities in the province.
The Maute Group's takeover of the city on May 23, 2017, prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao.
It has since been extended thrice, with the latest having its effectivity until the end of 2019.
Brawner said that martial law has been effective in lowering the crime rate and curbing the terroristic attacks in Lanao del Sur where Marawi City is situated.
"With the martial law, we are able to implement additional security measures. If you go around the city, there are several checkpoints that we have established. We have also established curfew hours," he said.
"We have to make sure that we will not be infiltrated by elements of terrorist groups as well as foreign fighters," he added.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/695460/maute-bandits-down-to-25-afp-says/story/
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