Maute supporters suspected to be behind back-to-back Marantao bombings

Supporters of the Maute group are suspected to have perpetrated a series of bombings in Marantao, Lanao del Sur near Marawi City on Sunday.

According to a report by Chino Gaston on Unang Balita on Monday, informants have claimed that the bombings may have been caused by alleged supporters of the terrorist group from Piagapo.

Several houses and a school were hit with shrapnel in the attacks, which included a mortar shell recovered from a house after it failed to set off.

"Narinig ko lang ang nangyari dito. Hindi ko na nakita noon. Pero ang sabi nila, ligaw na bala 'yan. Malakas 'yan, ang pagputok niya," said a resident.

"May narinig kaming malakas na putok ng bomba," said another. "Nung paglabas namin, biglang nakarinig ako ng putok. Dun pala, dun sa may gate. Tapos nu'ng paglapit namin dito, biglang may pumasok dito na 'di ko alam kung bala or mortar, IED."

Residents in Marantao suspected the bombs may have come from terrorist sympathizers as there had been no military operations around their area at the time of the bombing.

The military also denied involvement in the bombings.

After weeks of attacks, the Maute group's stronghold in Marawi City has been reduced to two barangays.

President Rodrigo Duterte requested for an additional 20,000 military personnel to be deployed in Marawi and various other locations to "guard areas in the country where there are continuing security threats." —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News