Lanao del Sur town under state of calamity as military offensive vs. Maute continues

Local authorities on Sunday placed Piagapo town in Lanao del Sur under a state of calamity due to the ongoing offensive of the military against the ISIS-linked Maute group.

Piagapo Mayor Ali Sumdanar said a total of 416 families or 1,828 people have fled from four villages, including barangays Gacap, Tambo, Pantaon and Tapucan, due to the ongoing military offensive.

Piagapo has a total of 37 villages.

Sumandar said that according to residents in affected areas, the military offensive started past 1 a.m. on Saturday.

He said the encounter between government troops and members of the dreaded Maute group lasted until 5 a.m.

Two more skirmishes between the troops and the terror group members took place at around 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The military said it is verifying reports that 15 Maute group members have been killed in the clashes.

Sumandar said the residents of Barangay Gacap decided to leave their homes after an electric post was hit by a bomb.

Maute recruitment

Ramal Panacawan, chairman of Barangay Tambo, said they learned of the Maute group's presence in their village after its members attempted to recruit teenagers after their a Mass last Friday.

Panawacan said they immediately reported the Maute members' presence to the military.

Barangay Gacap chairman Abdullah Acoon Mangotara, meanwhile, said that the Maute group has established a camp near their village, at the boundary of Balindong and Piagapo towns.

Mangotara said they also reported this to the military.

The Piagapo municipal government's disaster risk reduction and management office has started providing relief goods to the affected residents.

The Maute group transferred to Piagapo after the military drove them out of their known lair in Butig town. —report from Merlyn Manos/ALG, GMA News