Military says no indication if Abu Dar killed in Lanao del Sur clashes

The military on Tuesday said there is no indication yet on whether the alleged new leader of the ISIS-Maute group, Owayda Benito Marohombsar alias Abu Dar, was killed following clashes in Lanao del Sur.

Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Ranao, said pursuit operations against the Maute remnants are still ongoing.

Thursday last week, the military launched an assault against the remaining Maute-ISIS members led by Abu Dar in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur which later escalated on Sunday.

Brawner said government troops were able to seize the encampment of the terror fighters on Monday.

“Sa ngayon yung pursuit operations ongoing pa rin kasi daw medyo maingat sila dahil masukal yung area, forested,” Brawner said.

“So maingat lang ‘yung pag-advance nila kasi baka ma-ambush sila or ano, nag-disperse naman na ‘yung grupo, yung grupo ni Abu Dar, yun ang mahirap eh, mas mahirap habulin o makita sila na mas maliliit na grupo,” he added.

Brawner earlier said they are still verifying the reported deaths of five Maute members but he pointed out that troops did not find a cadaver during the clearing operation.

Abu Dar allegedly became the new leader of the ISIS-inspired group, after he managed to escape the main battle area with millions of pesos in loot.

Last year, the ISIS-linked Maute group occupied Marawi City, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law over the whole Mindanao.

The military had said that the Maute group remains a threat but not as potent when they first launched an assault in Marawi City. — RSJ, GMA News