ZAMBOANGA CITY – The number of Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired Maute group surrenderers this month has climbed to 10 as two more followers yielded to the government, a top military official said Wednesday.
Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, said the two Maute group followers surrendered at around 3 p.m. Tuesday in the town of Lumbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur.
Murillo said the two Maute surrenderers turned over a caliber .50 machinegun and a caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle to Lt. Col. Ian Noel Ignes, Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion of the Joint Task Force Ranao.
Murillo said the surrenderers, whose identities are being withheld, were placed under custodial debriefing.
“The continuous surrender of Mautes entails weakening of their organizational leadership and capabilities, and we encourage others to lay down their arms and live peacefully,” he said.
Of the 10 Maute surrenderers, seven have surrendered to the Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion on October 9 in Pagahyawan, Lanao del Sur, while a sniper surrendered on October 10 to the 49th Infantry Battalion in Butig in the same province.
Maute, originally known as Dawlah Islamiya, pledged allegiance to the ISIS. The group was founded by brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute in 2012.
The group clashed with the military on several occassions, the most significant of which was in May 2017 dubbed as “Battle of Marawi.”
Abdullah and Omar as well as Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon were killed during the “Battle of Marawi” that ended in October 2017. (/PNA)
