Malaysian terrorist could be new IS leader in Marawi

MANILA, Philippines — Government forces are hunting down a Malaysian militant tipped to take over as head of the Islamic State (IS) group in Southeast Asia, after the killing of Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute, the terrorist group’s former leaders.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, however, said there is no intelligence information that supports Mahmud Ahmad will be considered as the new leader of the IS-linked Maute group even as troops continue to scour Marawi City for the remaining terrorists.

“We do not know if he will be considered as the emir for Southeast Asia. There is no confirmation on that yet,” Lorenzana said in a radio interview over Radyo Singko yesterday.

“But it could be him, he could be the one tasked to lead their group in the whole of Asia,” he said.

Ahmad is the top remaining target for government forces battling to end the nearly five-month siege of Marawi that has claimed more than 1,000 lives and left the Islamic city in ruins.

The military claimed a major breakthrough Monday when it announced the death of Hapilon, also the leader of the notorious Abu Sayyaf.

Hapilon was designated emir of the IS in Southeast Asia to establish a caliphate in southern Philippines.

“Mahmud remains... one of our high-value targets in the operations being conducted,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla said yesterday.

He added troops were fighting in a zone comprising about 60 to 80 buildings in the ruined city. 

“We are focused on a ground offensive because the fighting is too close,” he said.

Padilla said Ahmad was among 20 to 30 militants, including up to eight foreign fighters, remaining in Marawi.

He said the terrorists are still holding about 20 hostages.

Terrorism expert Ahmad Kumar Ramakrishna from Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said if Ahmad survived he would likely take over the leadership of IS-linked fighters in the southern Philippines.

Ahmad is also reported to be a university lecturer in his home country in charge of raising finances from abroad for the jihadists and recruitment.

Lorenzana said Ahmad acts as a conduit for funds but it was not him but Hapilon who was designated as the IS emir.  

The pro-IS Maute group occupied parts of Marawi on May 23 following a foiled attempt by security forces to arrest Hapilon.

The military said Monday Hapilon – on the US “most wanted terrorists” list – was killed in a dawn offensive alongside Omarkhayam Maute, one of two brothers who with Hapilon plotted to take over the city.

Since then more than 1,000 people have been killed and 400,000 residents displaced as insurgents were hit with a relentless bombing campaign and intense ground battles with troops.

Following the killing of the terrorist leaders, the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command raised its alert level yesterday as it warned against retaliatory attacks from sympathizers of the militants.

The directive included tightening border security to prevent militants from moving around Mindanao.

Lorenzana said the Marawi siege does not end with the killing of Hapilon and Maute.

He said troops will have to continue with their operations and clear all buildings of booby traps before a damage assessment can be made to allow rehabilitation and reconstruction to go into full swing.

On the issue of lifting martial law, Lorenzana said a recommendation would be made to President Duterte before the end of the month.

Lorenzana said an assessment will be forwarded to Duterte that would determine if martial law in Mindanao will have to continue or can be lifted after the Marawi siege is finally put to an end.  – With Edith Regalado, Gerry Lee-Gorit, Perseus Echeminada, AFP