THE Islamic State in Southeast Asia has announced a new “emir” to replace Isnilon Hapilon, the Abu Sayyaf leader who was killed in the siege of Marawi last year, the military said Monday.
Army Maj. Ronald Suscano, spokesman of the 1st Infantry Division, identified Abu Dar, 40, an ASG sub-leader as the new emir of the terrorist network in Southeast Asia.
A full-blooded Maranao born in Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur, he currently operates in the hinterlands of the province.
Intelligence reports said Abu Dar was among those who slipped out of Marawi City, reportedly carrying a large amount of money that was looted during the early stages of the terrorist attack on Marawi City in May 2017.
“He was the one who carried the money out of Marawi City. That’s why they had lots of funds and he was the one in charge of the money,” Suscano said.
Suscano said Abu Dar is not as radical as Hapilon, but has vast training, experience and connections that paved the way for him to become the new emir.
Suscano said the military has already intensified its monitoring on the movements of Abu Dar and foreign terrorists in his company, such as Abdul Nasser Lomondot, who was arrested on Saturday.
Police arrested Abdul Nasser and his wife along Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila over the weekend. He was in possession of a handgun and a grenade.
Suscano said Lomondot is a Maute Group sub-leader who took part in the Marawi rebellion and responsible in the killing of innocent civilians.
“He was one of the key planners in the attacks of Marantao, Lanao del Sur during the Marawi rebellion. He underwent combat training in Butig, Lanao del Sur along with other Daesh members,” Suscano said.
Abdul Nasser was among the 10 remaining Maute sub-leaders after the fall of the ISIS-inspired Maute group following the death of its top leader Abudullah Maute and three of his brothers in the Marawi City attack.
At present, the Maute terror group has 313 remaining members with 10 sub-leaders in the aftermath of its Marawi City defeat.
Lomondot was arrested with a second pro-IS suspect, Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde said in a statement.
The military warned last month that the remaining militants from Marawi have mustered a force of about 200 gunmen to launch a second attempt to put up a caliphate in the country’s south.
Meanwhile, government security forces said Friday more than 7,000 unlicensed firearms, excluding those from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, are in the hands of people that shouldn’t have guns in Maguindanao.
Army Captain Arvin John Encinas, military’s 6th Division spokesman, said the figures was based based on the records provided to them by Maguindanao provincial police commander Senior Supt. Agustin Tello.
Encinas said the military, police and local officials have intensified their “Balik Baril” Program in support to the campaign against loose firearms.
“The weapons from the MILF are technically illegal but we have ongoing peace talks so they are not allowed to bring their weapons outside their camps,” Encinas said.
Encinas said several municipal officials in Maguidanao have already responded to their campaign as martial law is still in effect in the region until December 2018.
The latest was in this town where town Mayor Reshal Ampatuan led the turnover of 15 high-powered weapons that were surrendered to them by residents.
The guns include one M-16 rifle, three Garand rifles; three shotguns, two .45 cal. pistols; and three Uzis.
