Terror group Maute allegedly recruits orphans

The terrorist Maute group is using money to recruit orphaned young men in Lanao del Sur, GMA News' Ian Cruz reported on "24 Oras" on Wednesday.

However, a man who asked not to be identified told GMA News that sub-leader Imam Avelino Bantayaw tried to recruit him but he refused.

"May iba binata, may iba walang nanay or walang tatay... 'yun, kaya na-recruit ni Imam, sumama sila dun," he added.

Bantayaw was later killed in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.

The military continues its pursuit operation in the area to locate some Maute group members who were able to escape. They found 30 bunkers that served as shelter for members of the 50 terror group members.

Witnesses saw armed men running within the barangays along the boundary of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.

The remains of two terrorists were discovered. The police force and Scene of the Crime Operatives were called to process the corpses and determine their identity.

Meanwhile, the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army is also in the process of identifying the remains of terrorists killed in an armed encounter.

So far, only Batayaw has been identified among the 32 Maute members killed including three Indonesians and one Malaysian.

One of the members being hunted is Abu Dar, bomb experts Najib Pundog and Abu Sumpa.

"Andiyan pa rin kasi sila. Splintered, splintered sila. Eh siyempre tutugisin natin sila. We will keep them always in the move. They will not rise back until the end of this campaign," said Brig. Gen. Nixon Fortes, Philippine Army 103rd Infantry Brigade commander.

The site of the armed encounter is not far from the camp of Moro Islamic Liberation Front leader, Komander Bravo.

However, according to the intelligence information gathered by the AFP and PNP, the fleeing Maute group members were not accepted by Komander Bravo.

"Hindi niya (Bravo) pinapayagan ang mga myembro ng Maute group sa area ng bakbakan na makalapit sa mga kampo niya," said Sr. Insp. Ridhwan Ombawa, Piagapo PNP Chief of Police.

There is no way to identify the members who are part of Maute.

"Hindi naman sila (Maute) dumadaan sa magbibigay sila ng pasaporte at ma-identify na ito ay isang terrorist," said Piagapo Mayor Ali Sumandar.

"Magkaroon sila (PNP and AFP) ng unified force na magpa-patrol along the seashore ng ating bansa," he added. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BAP, GMA News