AFP verifying if foreign jihadists were among Maute group in Lanao

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is checking if there were foreign jihadists among the Maute group members who had clashes with government troops in Lanao del Sur, a report on Unang Balita on Tuesday said.

Thirty-six rebels died after sporadic fighting went on for days between Army soldiers and the rebel Maute group.

On Monday, government troopers captured the rebels' camp in Barangay Gacap in the municipality of Piagapo and raised the Philippine flag.

Among the 36 bodies recovered were those of foreign-looking men, GMA News' Ian Cruz reported.

The men do not have Maranao features but may possibly be Indonesian or Malaysian.

Piagapo Mayor Ali Sumdanar said based on their investigation before the Army soldiers' encounter with the Maute group on Saturday, there were men among the rebel group who spoke a different language.

Also among the dead on the rebels' side was an imam who was a resident of the area.

The imam may have been the one who brought the Maute group to Piagapo after the rebels had a hard time in Butig following the military offensive against them.

At the camp in Brgy. Gacap, there were foxholes and trenches the rebels may have dug for their protection.

As of posting time, more than 2,000 residents of the municipalities of Piagapo and Balindong are still fearful and wary of returning to their homes.

The AFP is still conducting pursuit operations against the more than 120 members of the Maute Group who managed to escape after the firefight.

In November, President Rodrigo Duterte said the international terrorist organization ISIS has connected with the Maute group. —KG, GMA News