Maute group declared as enemy of Maranao people —Adiong

The Maranao people have declared the Maute terrorist group as their enemy, a local official said Saturday. 

Lanao del Sur Provincial Crisis Management Committee spokesman and Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong told Radio dzBB that all the mayors of the province have signed a manifesto affirming that the ISIS-influenced Maute group is an enemy of the Maranao (Meranao), a collective term referring to the people living around Lanao Lake.

Quoting Adiong, dzBB's Benjie Liwanag said that the manifesto also classifies the group as under Daulah Islamiyah or Islamic State, an international terrorist group. 

Dawla Islamiyya (Maute Terrorist Group) and its sympathizers are "Enemies of the Meranao (or Maranao)  People."  

"We will engage the Maute on all fronts. Mobilizing all sectors, stakeholders to combine our efforts to counter the spread of false teachings, radicalization of our youth and the  threat of terrorism," Adiong said.

Likewise, he said that local officials will work to strengthen the civilian security plan at the barangay level.

All authorities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are expressing their opposition to the group, which is still wreaking havoc in Marawi City, he said. —Jamil Joseph Santos/LBG, GMA News