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Maute could have collected other groups’ firearms in the past – AFP


The military believes that the firearms used by the ISIS-inspired Maute group could have been sourced from other armed groups in Mindanao at one time.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Restituto Padilla Jr. made the statement after a news report said that President Rodrigo Duterte linked the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front to Maute’s firepower.

“Itong mga firearms na maaaring nandiyan ngayon sa loob ng Marawi, potentially noong araw pa at matagal nang panahon. Some of the members of the Maute group may have relatives in other groups or armed groups,” Padilla told reporters during the Mindanao Hour briefing.

In fact, the Maute group sprouted from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) when the latter signed a peace deal with the government in 2012.

Meanwhile, Padilla said that because of the group’s various potential sources, there should be an effort to collect all the loose firearms from other private armed groups and other terrorists groups, especially during the martial law period.

“And this is a cause for concern that has been there since a long time ago and has been addressed many times over but unsuccessfully. And we hope that during this period of martial law, we can successfully cover this and get rid or confiscate all these loose firearms that are there,” he said.

As of June 18 at 8 p.m., government troops have been able to recover 250 firearms, including around 20 high-powered firearms seized last Saturday from the enemy’s area of operation.

Meanwhile, 257 terrorists have already been killed while the government has lost 62 personnel. The Maute group also killed a total of 26 civilians since it attacked Marawi City on May 23.

Soft policy vs. rebels

In one of his first public events in days, Duterte told troops in Butuan City on Saturday that the government had adapted a “very soft policy” towards rebels and their firearms.

“And this came about because nagdadala sila ng baril eh. And since we are thinking of getting peace with the MNLF and MI, ang laro ng armas diyan, we took it for granted. We took it really for granted na. Pero alam natin na mabibigat,” Duterte was quoted in a Manila Times report.

“Pero hinayaan kasi natin because we never knew at that time kung sino talaga ang kalaban. ‘Yun bang mga pulitikong nag-aaway, nagri-rido sila, o ‘yung mga itong private army ba ito ng politicians?” he added.

The President also said some politicians may have connived with the Maute in stockpiling war materials.

“Ngayon, kalabas-labasan, itong Maute were bringing the firearms surreptitiously at hindi natin nakuha na gaano na karami ang ammo pati baril sa loob. And besides, it was not a failure of intelligence. Kasi kung makita pa silang may armas, tapos sabihin nila, MI, MN, ang standing order naman is… baka, baka sakali mapakiusapan pa natin ang mga kapatid natin. Walang gulo,” Duterte said.

“But all the while, itong Maute, with the connivance of the politicians there, ‘yung mga warlords, were stockpiling. Kaya ni hindi maubos ‘yung M-203 na bala at napakarami,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News

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