TWO remnants of a local terror group Maute have surrendered to military authorities in the province of Lanao del Sur, the military said.
Lieutenant Colonel Ian Ignes, Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion commander, said the two, whose identities were withheld, surrendered to them around 9 a.m. Friday in Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur.
Ignes said they were followers of Owayda Benito Marohombsar also known as Abu Dar, who became the leader of the Maute group remnants after the successful military operation during the 2017 Marawi siege.
“Based on our initial custodial debriefing, the two were tired of running and evading our troops,” Ignes said. The two turned over a caliber KG-9 sub-machines gun and a caliber .45 pistol.
“Our combat operation will be relentless and continuous so as not to hamper the recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Marawi,” said Colonel Romeo Brawner, the newly-installed Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade commander.
Meanwhile, Major Generan Roseller Murillo, 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, commended the efforts of the troops that led to the surrender of Abu Dar’s comrades.
“Our campaign against terrorists will be continuous in order to attain a just and lasting peace in our area of operation,” he added. ( Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)