Maute group continues to recruit fighters — army official

The ISIS-inspired Maute group is continuing to recruit members in preparation for another siege, a high-ranking military official said on Sunday.

Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Rolando Bautista said that the local terrorist group's recruitment operations are not limited to Marawi City, but also reaches areas of Sulu and Basilan.

"Actually that's expected. In fact, after the Marawi liberation, the common action of the supporters of the enemies neutralized is to recruit," Bautista said in a recent interview with reporters.

"We have received reports that the recruitment is not limited within Lanao del Sur. It also continued in the areas of Basilan and Sulu and even in the area of Palimbang (a town in Sultan Kudarat)," he added.

Bautista said a number of government troops are still deployed in Marawi City as there are threats of another possible attack by the Maute group.

"The recruitment continues, meaning when there is recruitment there is still a possibility that they will siege or occupy another city, not particularly Marawi City. That is a big possibility," Bautista said.

He added that security forces will not leave the residents of Marawi unprotected, and that rehabilitation efforts are ongoing.

"He [President Rodrigo Duterte] has mobilized all government agencies, he directed local government units to fast-track the rehabilitation of Marawi City and our troops are there to ensure [the security] of the residents," Bautista added.

Government forces fought the Maute terrorists in Marawi City last year over five months in which more than 1,000 people died. Duterte declared martial law in the whole of Mindanao on the same day the fighting began. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News