Maute group has relatives, sympathizers in Marawi —mayor

The ISIS-inspired Maute group has relatives and sympathizers in Marawi City, Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra admitted in an interview on Unang Balita on Monday.

"We cannot deny the fact na meron po talagang mga kamag-anak and few sympathizers of this group dito sa Marawi City dahil ito pong Maute group, some of them have roots dito sa ating lugar," he said.

"Hindi naman po maraming sympathizers. Ang sinasabi ko lang ang Maute group ay meron din silang roots dito sa Marawi City. Ibig sabihin, meron din silang mga kamag-anak dito," Gandamra added.

Before the Maute group attacked Marawi City on May 23, Gandamra said there were already reports of their attempts to enter the area.

"Before this incident took place, meron na po talagang reports that merong mga attempt na pumapasok itong grupo na ito. In fact before this incident, nagkaroon ng operation ang ating kasundaluhan and some barangays of Marawi City because of reports na merong mga sighting of Maute group," he said.

Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon was reportedly in the city this month with Maute group members, prompting government troopers to launch an operation. Clashes then ensued over the next few days with 95 people killed as of Sunday.

READ: A timeline of the Maute group’s attack on Marawi City

While most residents have evacuated to safer areas, Gandamra remains holed up at the city hall. He clarified that his staying there is not because he could not get out, but that he wanted to be there.

"Since Day 1 po until at umabot po kami ng four days, hindi ho dahil hindi ako nakakalabas, kundi talagang deliberately, I stayed in the city hall dahil po ako'y nangangamba na mapasok nila ang city hall. So that talagang we defended the city hall during those times dahil meron pong mga attempts and may mga reports na talagang papasukin nila ang city hall ng Marawi City para lagyan nila ng bandila," he said.

"Tayo po ay hindi papayag diyan because ang city hall po ay simbolo ng sovereignty or authority of the government over this city," Gandamra added.

He said the government has long been aware of the presence of Maute group in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City.

"That is a known fact and alam po 'yan ng ating pamahalaan at talaga pong merong mga Maute group dito sa Lanao del Sur at Marawi City. Kaya lang po before du'n sila naka-focus sa ibang lugar sa Lanao del Sur. Ngayon lang po sila nagparamdam ng matinding presensiya by of course creating trouble itong nangyayari," he added.

Gandamra however did not discount the possibility that the current situation is politically motivated.

"Those are possibilities dahil 'yan po ay naririnig natin na opinion sa mga individual at intelligence reports na ito po maaaring may posibilidad na ito ay influenced, politically motivated. But maybe hindi lang po ito ang dahilan. Kundi marami pong dahilan ang pangyayaring ito," he said.

Gandamra said the government should validate those speculations.

"These are speculations and opinions, and the government should validate that speculations and of course may naririnig natin. Dahil napakaseryoso po 'yang allegations. Hindi po namamatay ang allegations na 'yun dahil matagal po nating naririnig na may connections sa sinasabi niyong pulitika," he said.

Martial law

The mayor reiterated that he supports the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

"Ang pagdeklara po ng martial law ni ating Presidente ay natataon po dahil sa pangyayaring ito. Tayo po ay sumusuporta sa kanyang pagdeklara kahit alam po natin ang matinding consequences ng declaration ng martial law," he said.

"Subalit po alam po natin na mahirap sugpuin ang ganitong pag-alsa ng miyembro ng Maute group or this ISIS-inspired group. And so we have to find ways to eradicate itong grupo na ito," he added.

"Ang pagdeklara ng martial law, isa itong paraan para masugpo natin ito at totally mapatigil na natin sila dahil matagal na po itong nangyayari. In fact, hindi lang itong Marawi City ang kanilang nais nilang lusubin o i-invade. Kagaya po ng nangyari sa Davao City kung saan nagkaroon ng bombing," he said.

Gandamra said it would be costly if the group will not be stopped.

"Kaya't napakadelikado po na hindi natin ito mapigil. It can also create spillover in some other areas of Mindanao and even in the entire Philippines. Sa tingin ko po, 'pag ito ay na-contain ng ating militar, dito na po siguro magtatapos," he said.

"I think the President studied it well. Alam ko po na marami siyang magagaling na legal team na nagbigay sa kanya ng legal advice para gawin po ito. As long as ang pagdeklara ng martial law ay hindi naman nava-violate ang karapatang pantao ng innocent civilians, tayo po ay sumusuporta sa deklarasyon ng martial law," Gandamra said. —KG, GMA News