After reports from the army circulated that about 300 remnants of the Islamic State (IS)-inspired Maute group escaped before the end of the Marawi siege, and are allegedly hiding in Metro Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said that this is still for validation.
“’Yan po ‘yung sinasabi niyo na parang lumalabas po na information na nanggaling po sa ibang region, ‘yan po ay for validation. ‘Di po confirmed ‘yung report na ‘yan (That report you were referring to that was released with information from another region… that is for validation. That report is not confirmed yet),” NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde said in an interview with DZZMM on March 8.
According to Albayalde, the police are however monitoring over 70 Muslim communities.
“Tayo po ay nakipag-ugnayan matagal na sa ating mga kapatid na Muslim dito sa Metro Manila (We have coordinated with our Muslim brothers and sisters here in Metro Manila even before),” he said, adding that the coordination and communication are still ongoing.
Albayalde also said that it is possible for the remaining fighters to hide because their records showed that they have a lot of relatives in Metro Manila.
The NCRPO Director also regrettably said that currently, the police do not have a full list of identifications like photos of the fighters, but are relying on the list and those that are already identified.
In a Reuters report, Major Ronaldo Suscano, the spokesman of the army’s 1st infantry division told the reporters, “They are regrouping, restraining, and recruiting for another attack.”
(Read: Army: 300 Maute fighters escaped, regrouped before Marawi siege end)
He further said that the fighters divided themselves into smaller groups with some going to the capital city of Manila to conduct bombings.
On Monday, the alleged subleader was arrested and identified as Nasser Lomondot also known as Muhamad Lomondot, while the other suspected member was Rizasalam Lomondot. Both were nabbed by the NCRPO in Tondo, Manila.