Amin Baco is new ISIS Southeast Asia emir — PNP Chief

FILE: The Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday confirmed that Malaysian terrorist Amin Baco is the new chief of Islamic State (ISIS) in Southeast AsiaThe Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday has confirmed Malaysian terrorist Amin Baco as the new chief of Islamic State (ISIS) in Southeast Asia. (Photo: Philippine National Police/ Facebook)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday confirmed that Malaysian terrorist Amin Baco is the new chief of Islamic State (ISIS) in Southeast Asia, and is leading the remaining Maute fighters.

In a press conference at Camp Crame, dela Rosa said Baco assumed the position of Isnilon Hapilon as the leader of ISIS Southeast Asia.

PNP’s deputy chief for operations Director General Fernando Mendez Jr. said that a certain “Baco” was elected by the members as their new emir, following the death of Hapilon.

According to dela Rosa, the information he disclosed came from Muhammad Ilham Syahputra, an arrested Indonesian terrorist tied to the IS-inspired Maute group. Syahputra was nabbed by joint authorities of Marawi City Police Station-Intelligence Section, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Lanao del Sur provincial police office in the war-torn city’s main battleground on November 1.

“Baco is one of the longest staying terrorist in the Philippines. He’s with Marwan for a long time so isa siya sa pinaka experienced na foreign [he’s one of the most experienced foreign] terrorist fighters in Philippines,” Mendez was quoted as saying in an Inquirer report.

Mendez stressed that even though Baco had close connection with Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan”, he was far from Marwan’s hideout when he was killed during the deadly clash between police commandos and Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January 2015.

“Nu’ng andun si Marwan (Zulkifli bin Hir) sa Lanao, andun siya (Baco). Sa Mamasapano andun din siya nakatira pero malayo lang siya sa pwesto ni Marwan [When Marwan was in Lanao, he was there (Baco). He was living in Mamasapano but far away from Marwan’s position],” Mendez was cited as saying in a GMA report.

The government troops have been searching for Baco since November 3.

Hapilon and Maute were appointed as leaders of a joint alliance of Abu Sayyaf and Maute terrorists in Southeast Asia. Both of them were later killed by soldiers on October 16.