Some Maute militants, supporters slipped out of Marawi —analyst

Some members of ISIS-inspired Maute and other terrorist groups have been able to slip out of war-torn Marawi City and scattered throughout Mindanao, a security analyst told dzBB on Saturday morning.

"May nakalabas na dahil ... na-anticipate ng threat groups na ito na magkakaroon ng airstrike at pinaghandaan talaga nila na i-confront sila ng government forces," said Prof. Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, Inc. 

"Napaghandaan nila ito, gumawa sila ng tunnels, nag-imbak sila ng mga armas at pagkain," he added.

Banlaoi earlier claimed that terrorist groups in Mindanao have formed a stronger coalition under the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The new terrorist group is called "Daulah Islamiyah Wilayatul Mashriq" or the "Islamic State East Asia Division."

Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon was reportedly appointed as an "emir" of ISIS in the Philippines and will lead the establishment of a "wilayat" or a provincial ISIS territory in Lanao del Sur with the Maute group.

Meanwhile, Banlaoi  pointed out that calling militants in Marawi City as Maute group is inaccurate as other terrorist groups have joined the attack on the Muslim-majority city.

"Yung threat groups na kinaharap ng government forces sa Marawi City ay hindi lamang Maute group yan... Ang kinakaharap ng ating pamahalaan ay isang unified group ng mga ISIS followers sa Pilipinas," Banlaoi said.

"Pero balwarte talaga ng Maute group ang Marawi City, kaya nga mismong si Isnilon Hapilon ang bumaba  sa siyudad ," he added.

At least 14 terror groups have already unified and pledged allegiance to ISIS, Banlaoi added.

"Ang na-count namin na nag-pledge ng allegiance ay umabot na sa 14. Pero meron pang ibang grupo pero ang pinaka-armadong grupo na talagang nag-deploy ng kanilang combatants ay nanggaling sa Abu Sayyaf group, sa Maute group, Bangsamoro Islamic freedom fighters, at sa Khilafah Philippines at Khilafah Islamiyah Mindanao." 

Banlaoi said it would be even harder for the government once the skirmishes in Marawi would be over since most militants have already fled to other areas in Mindanao.

"Tingin ko dito na mas malaking hamon ang kahaharapin ng ating government forces pagkatapos ng Marawi incident dahil magkakalat-kalat sila sa Mindanao. In fact karamihan ng combatants nila ay pumunta na sa iba't ibang bahagi ng Mindanao," he added.

However, he pointed out that ISIS would not be able to establish a caliphate in the country as government remains strong in thwarting such threat, and that the international community also is giving its support.

"Sa tingin ko mahihirapan talaga yung ISIS na maisakatuparan na magtayo ng teritoryo dito sa Pilipinas dahil matibay naman ang paninidigan ng pamahaalan natin. At the same time, mayroong support ng international community particularly sa neighbors natin sa South East Asia na hindi mangyari yan," he added. 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday admitted that some of the Islamist militants already slipped away from Marawi City and mingled with evacuees during the ongoing battle to free the city. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/LBG, GMA News