Troops close in on Abu Dar

FILE PHOTO Members of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force ride in an army truck on their way to the frontline during the Marawi City siege. Threat from the New People’s Army has increased after the Communist Party of the Philippines ordered attacks on government forces to be stepped up after Congress approved a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao. AFP">FILE PHOTO Members of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force ride in an army truck on their way to the frontline during the Marawi City siege. Threat from the New People’s Army has increased after the Communist Party of the Philippines ordered attacks on government forces to be stepped up after Congress approved a one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao. AFP

Soldiers overran a terrorist encampment on the outskirts of Lanao del Sur and are in hot pursuit of the core group of the Maute-Islamic State (IS) bandits led by Abu Dar, tagged as the emir or leader of the IS caliphate in Southeast Asia.

Philippine Army 103rd Brigade commander Col. Romeo Brawner said Dar’s group, now tagged as Dawlah Islamiyah (DI)-Lanao Remnants by the military, is now on the run but “there will be no letup in our pursuit operation.”

Brawner said elements of the 55th Infantry Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Ian Ignes, recovered the terrorist encampment at around 8:10 a.m. after intense firefight since Thursday in Barangay Sumalindao, Sultan Dumalondong town.

“With the support we are receiving from the populace, we are moving forward to liberate communities from the influence of the DI-Lanao Remnants,” Brawner said, adding Dar was with 20 to 30 terrorists engaged by Army troops.

He described the seized terrorist camp as heavily fortified with bunkers and strategically located at a high ground. A training field was also found within the area.

It took government troops, supported by artillery and air assets, almost 24 hours to take over the camp.

“Despite the enemy’s advantage over the terrain, our troops were able to gain ground and managed to penetrate their defensive lines through timely and accurate supporting fires,” Brawner said.

The clashes resulted in the killing of at least three terrorists while three soldiers were also wounded.

“They are now on the run, but we will not relent on our pursuit operations,” Brawner said.

However, he warned of possible retaliatory attacks coming from Dar’s group and supporters.

“Despite their losses, we are not discounting the possibility of spoiling attacks in retaliation to our latest exploit. We expect the terrorist group to attack indiscriminately, targeting Muslim and Christian communities alike,” he said.

Dar is the subject of a P6 million bounty offered by the government after he escaped at the height of the Marawi City siege in 2017.

In a statement, authorities said the fighting left three soldiers wounded, while it confirmed three fatalities on the side of the IS. They also seized rockets, black flags with IS symbols, clothes, books and notebooks from the camp in Sumalindao village, Sultan Domalondong town which was surrounded by trenches and fox holes.

Some 150 families were evacuated due to the fighting. Two extremists, a 34-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy surrendered, the military said.

The 55th “Vigilant” Infantry Battalion encountered about 24 DI-Lanao Remnants or Maute-IS in an intense gunfight as they approached the terrorists’ lair at around 8.a.m., 24 January.

The initial assault lasted for about 10 hours until the beleaguered terrorists consolidated to their defensive strong points.

“Immediate fire support was provided through artillery and helicopters, sending the DI-Lanao remnants into their bunkers,” Brawner said. “The splintered group then scattered for survival, abandoning their stronghold due to the intense ground and air support.”

After the failed attempt of the Maute-IS to establish a caliphate in Lanao del Sur, the military said communities around Lake Lanao have been awakened on the repercussions of violent extremism.

“Social conditions on the ground show despise of terrorist remnants. After massive information dissemination, people are now aware of the destruction brought by violent extremists. Communities now willingly give out information to government troops to rid their communities of terrorists,” Brawner said.

“With the support we are receiving from the populace, we are moving forward to liberate communities from the influence of the DI-Lanao Remnants.” he added.

He also expressed belief that sustained military operations – both combat and civil-military – will be a cornerstone in his campaign against the DI-Lanao Remnants.

“We will weaken their will to fight – either through lethal or non-lethal means. We will take them out of their comfort zones until they have no other option but to die or return to the fold of the law,” Brawner said. “We are a determined force. Together with our fellow Maranaos, we will serve justice to the people who destroyed Marawi City.”

Two IS-inspired Maute member, including a child warrior, meanwhile, surrendered to government troops in Lanao del Sur. Elements of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Butig town received the two rebels. The rebels were identified as Hussein, 17, and Ashlani, 34, who surrendered as they feared the heavy military operations in Sultan Dumalandong town in the same province.

“We are afraid that we might be next in the (military) operation. Our leaders abandoned us after our last encounter. We have nowhere to run, so we surrendered,” Ashalani said.