PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Nicolas Torre III said on Monday, August 11, 2025, that the public has nothing to worry about following the arrest of “child warriors” during an operation against the Dawlah Islamiyah Maute Group (DI-MG) in Lanao del Sur over the weekend.
In a press conference, Torre assured the public that the situation is under control amid concerns over the apparent efforts of the terrorist group to regain its strength.
“Ever since naman, naging modus operandi na ng Maute ang pag-recruit ng mga child fighters kasi nga pagdating sa labanan sa field, ang ating mga tauhan ay siyempre iba ang pagtingin kapag bata ang nakakaharap. Kaya ito’y kasuklam-suklam na gawain ng Maute,” he said.
(Ever since, it has been the Maute’s modus operandi to recruit child fighters because, in the battlefield, our personnel naturally respond differently when facing children. That is why this is a despicable act by the Maute.)
“Sa tanong na kung dapat ma-alarma ang ating mga kababayan ang gusto naming i-assure ang ating mga kababayan pero kontrolado natin ang mga ito,” he added.
(To the question of whether our countrymen should be alarmed, we want to assure them that we have these situations under control.)
Torre expressed confidence that the DI-MG is incapable of launching a large-scale terrorist activity similar to the Marawi Siege, noting the continuous whole-of-government approach against these elements.
Aside from strengthening law enforcement operations, he said concerned government agencies, particularly the PNP, are in continuous close coordination with schools and local government units to further prevent the recruitment operations of terrorist groups.
He said efforts also include identifying the recruiters, especially those targeting children.
“Ang kasama na sa ating mga preemptive measures sinisiguro natin na ma-debunk natin ang kanilang mga propaganda, maipakita sa ating mga kababayan na itong ginagawa nila ay walang kabutihan idinudulot kungdi gulo lamang at pagkasira ng mga community at sa individual level ay maaaring magresulta pa sa pagkasawi, pagkadisgrasya, pagkahuli, makasuhan ang ating mga kababayan,” said Torre.
(Part of our preemptive measures is to ensure that we debunk their propaganda and show our people that what they are doing brings no good, only chaos and destruction to communities. On an individual level, it could even result in death, accidents, arrest, or criminal charges for our countrymen.)
“Nakahanda naman tayo sa kung ano ang gusto nilang gawin pero sa ngayon ay pre-emptive tayo kahit wala silang gawin ay hahabulin na natin sa mga krimen na dati na bilang nagawa,” he added.
(We are ready for whatever they want to do, but right now we are acting preemptively— even if they do nothing, we will still pursue them for the crimes they have already committed.)
On Saturday, August 9, elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), during a manhunt operation against wanted individuals and high-profile fugitives, arrested three “child warriors” of the DI-MG.
The operation, which led to an armed encounter in Barangay Lamin, Lumbayanague, Lanao del Sur, also resulted in the death of three wanted members of DI-MG.
The three child warriors and the killed suspects were subjects of warrants of arrest for the crimes of murder and homicide, all issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 8, Marawi, Lanao del Sur on October 17, 2023.
Amerol Usman, the alleged leader of the DI Maute Group-Isis, and other subjects of the arrest warrant took advantage of the firefight and managed to evade arrest.
Seized during the operation were various firearms, explosives, and two black ISIS flags. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)