DWDD: SUSTAINED OPERATIONS | AFP offensive versus IS-Maute remnants intensifies

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Jun 19): SUSTAINED OPERATIONS  |   AFP offensive versus IS-Maute remnants intensifies

LANAO DEL SUR (DWDD) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has intensified its military operations against the remnants of the IS-inspired Maute Group.

 

Col. Romeo Brawner, Jr., deputy commander of the Joint Task Force Ranao, said the operation started Friday when government troops positioned to run after the group of Owayda Benito Marohomsar alias Abu Dar.

He has been in the terror wanted list of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has a P3,000,000 bounty on his head. He is said to be the appointed emir (leader) of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia replacing Abu Sayaff leader Isnilon Hapilon who was killed in the five-month war in Marawi.

Abu Dar, who hails from Pagayawan town, was one of the ten leaders who planned the attack in Marawi last year. The video footage of their group planning the attack was recovered by the military from the laptop the militants left at Hapilon’s apartment in Barangay Bask Malutlut in Marawi at the start of the firefight.

Brawner said, Abu Dar escaped from the main battle-ground during the early weeks of Marawi siege purposely to get additional troops as reinforcement from outside but did not go back to the battle-field due to heightened checkpoints. Abu Dar has continued recruiting members, targeting young ones whose family members died during Marawi siege. They are being trained in the mountainous parts of Lanao del Sur and he has been sighted frequently in Tubaran.

“Na-determine kahapon (Sunday) ang location ng grupo (Abu Dar) kaya ginamitan na ng airtsike. Ngayon, on-going ang hot pursuit operation to get him and his group. Wala na munang airstrike kasi nag-disperse sila, hindi kasi magamit ang airstrike kung isa o dalawang tao lang ang target. However, naka-standby ang mga air assets natin at ang ground assault natin ay continue,” Brawner said.

“Ito ang ipinangako ng AFP to get Abu Dar na nasa Tubaran with around 40 recruit-members all armed,” he added.

The AFP assured that no civilians will be caught in a cross-fire because the aerial bombings was concentrated in the mountainous parts of Lanao del Sur where the terrorists are hiding and there are no residents. MCAG / FB page of Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur

http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/06/19/sustained-operations-afp-offensive-versus-is-maute-remnants-intensifies/