AFP monitoring alleged recruitment in areas near Lanao Lake

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is now monitoring the reported recruitment activities of the Maute group in areas surrounding Lanao Lake.

“We have received reports that there are recruitment activities in the areas surrounding the Lanao Lake,” Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr, Task Force Ranao deputy commander, said at a press briefing in Marawi Wednesday.

He said they are now coordinating with the local officials and residents to thwart the recruitment.

“We are coordinating closely with the local government and also the citizens of these municipalities so that they could help us in preventing the recruitment especially of the youth to join any terroristic activity,” he said.

AFP chief of staff General Rey Leonardo Guerrero said he was told that a total of 77 firearms have been recovered in Marawi since it was liberated from the Maute group.

“I was also given information that since the liberation of Marawi, we have already recovered a total of 77 firearms together with some cadavers and right now we have also our engineers here in the area composed Army, Air Force, and Navy engineers which are also undertaking debris clearing in the affected areas,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of Marawi last October 17, a day after the killing of terror group leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute.

Despite this, government troops still had encounters with Maute stragglers since the liberation.

As of October 17, a total of 847 Maute members, 163 government troops, and 47 civilians have been killed. A total of 1,770 civilians have been rescued while 846 firearms have been recovered. — MDM, GMA News