Seized Maute lair was terrorist training camp

ILIGAN CITY , Philippines  – A camp of the Maute group seized in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur had been used as a training ground for its new recruits, an official said yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Nixon Fortes, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, said most of the new recruits are aged 11 to 15.

Fortes said intelligence reports and information provided by civilians show that the Maute group transferred its camp from Butig town to Piagapo. The camp has 200 bunkers and foxholes.

A certain Commander Dabs and Imman Bantayao, who were in charge of the recruitment of new members and in running the camp, were among those killed in air and ground assaults by government forces. Bantayao was a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front leader under the group of Abdullah Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said militants are recruiting new members through social media.

“Those who have a feeling of hopelessness are vulnerable because the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) is promising something like having the purpose of their life,” Galvez said.

He said the seizure of the camp prevented the expansion of the group in Lanao in preparation for the propagation of an ISIS ”province.”

 “They are looking at Lanao as their base in the Philippines,” Galvez said.

He said it was the reason why Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, the designated emir of ISIS in Southeast Asia,  went to Lanao. Hapilon was believed killed in air strikes last month.

More displaced

Meanwhile, the number of families displaced in the clashes between government troops and Maute militants increased.

At least 604 families or 3,148 individuals left their homes as of yesterday, Vice Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., chairman of the Lanao del Sur Inter-Agency Task Force said, citing the  report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The evacuees were from Barangays Tapukan, Gakap and Bangko in Piagapo and Lumbac-Alalan, Pagayawan and Sitio Watu at the boundary of Piagapo and Balindong.

Adiong said the provincial and local governments, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other concerned agencies are providing assistance to affected residents.

 At least 36 militants, including four foreigners, were killed in the encounters.