2 more foreign-looking Maute group members found dead in Piagapo

Two more bodies of foreign-looking members of the Maute group have been dug out by troops conducting mopping up operations in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.

A report by Ian Cruz on Unang Balita on Wednesday said the two bodies were dug out from the encampment set up by the Maute group in Barangay Gacap.

The report said that according to Brig. Gen. Nixon Fortes, commander of the Philippine Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade, the two dead Maute members were foreign-looking.

Fortes said they are now in the process of identifying the two slain bandits.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año on Tuesday said three Indonesians and a Malaysian were among the 37 bandits killed in the offensive launched by the against the Maute group in Barangay Gacap.

Año had said the foreigners were members of Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian extremist group.

He said that JI members have been absorbed by the Maute group since the Southeast Asian terror group has dwindled in numbers.

The Maute group is also known as Dawlah Islamiya or an Islamic State based in Lanao del Sur.

Meanwhile, Fortes said the military already has control of a large part of the mountainous area of Piagapo town, where other Maute group members may still be hiding.

The military was able to overrun the Maute group's encampment after days of operations.

The military said the Maute encampment, which has a great vantage point of Barangay Gacap, has running trenches and foxholes. It also has a training area for the bandits.

The encampment was discovered by the military after villagers reported that the bandit group has been approaching younger residents to convince them into joining their group.

At least 100 people were still staying at the old municipal hall in Barangay Tambo, which was converted into an evacuation center.

Piagapo Mayor Ali Sumandar said medical personnel will be sent to the evacuation center to check on the condition of the displaced villagers.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, meanwhile, said its social workers will give counselling to some of the evacuees who are experiencing trauma. —ALG, GMA News