Malaysian designated ISIS Southeast Asia head — PNP

MANILA, Philippines — Extremist militant Amin Baco, a Malaysian, assumed the leadership of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia after Abu Sayyaf subleader Isnilon Hapilon was neutralized in Marawi, police said.

"Amin Baco has replaced Isnilon Hapilon as leader in Southeast Asia," Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa revealed at Monday's televised press briefing.

Citing information from arrested suspected terrorist Muhammad Ilham Syahputra, Dela Rosa said that Baco is leading, "not only the remaining stragglers [from the Marawi siege], but the rest of the Southeast Asia ISIS group."

The police chief said that they also have received information that Baco has left the main battle area, but he stressed that the police has yet to verify it. "That is still raw information," Dela Rosa said.

The government forces have been on the lookout of Baco since November 3.

Abu Sayyaf leader Hapilon and Omar Maute were designated as leaders of a joint coalition of Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Southeast Asia that laid siege on Marawi City, in May this year.

The group has been identified as an affiliate of a weakening Islamic State in the Middle East.

Both Hapilon and Maute were killed by military troops on October 16.

Syahputra was drone operator

On Monday, Dela Rosa also presented arrested Syahputra to the media. He was nabbed by authorities on November 1, and was placed under the custody of the PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on November 2.

Dela Rosa said that, upon investigation, Syahputra admitted to have worked with Baco.

He said Syahputra admitted to operating five drones for "intelligence purposes, surveillance of government troops."

"He is drone operator because he was claiming to be an I.T. graduate so he can join the ISIS," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa, however, refused to divulge more information the police received due to the sensitive nature of the interrogation.

Marawi City in the country's south was left in ruins following the six-month urban battle between state forces and Islamic militants. The government is faced with the complicated task of rebuilding the city as displaced residents and businesses try to return to normalcy.