THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed on Wednesday, February 28, the inclusion of the Maute Group in the United States list of foreign terrorist organizations.
“The inclusion of the Maute Group and ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) Philippines in the US list of foreign terrorist organizations is an affirmation of what Philippine authorities already know -- that the Maute Group and the Dawlah-Islamiya are terrorist groups that need to be dealt with decisively using the full force of the law,” said Department of Defense public affairs chief Arsenio Andolong.
“As such, they will be denied access to the US financial system and will face sanctions as may be deemed appropriate, making it more difficult for them to conduct their activities in the Philippines and abroad,” he added.
For his part, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brigadier General Bienvenido Datuin said such move will “invariably” help the armed forces particularly in the fight against local terrorists and their foreign cohorts.
He also echoed Andolong’s statement that such declaration will help them check the money trail, logistics chain and conduits of terror groups in foreign countries that may have connections with local extremists.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it was such a good news for the entire police force as they will have more reasons to go after them.
In a statement released on Tuesday, February 27, the US State Department designated three ISIS-affiliated groups—the ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Philippines and ISIS-Bangladesh – as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
The Department also designated as SDGTs four other ISIS-affiliated groups -- ISIS-Somalia, Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia, ISIS-Egypt, and the Maute Group -- and two ISIS-affiliated leaders, namely Mahad Moalim and Abu Musab al-Barnawi.
“As a result of these designations, US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Philippines, or ISIS-Bangladesh. The groups’ property and interests in property subject to US jurisdiction are blocked. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to the organizations,” it said.
The Maute terror group, named after its leaders Abdullah and Omar Maute, was responsible for the five-month Marawi siege, which had prompted the declaration of martial law in the entire Mindanao. (SunStar Philippines)