Maute group abducts 6 sawmill workers in Lanao del Sur town

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A local militant group associated with the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) abducted six sawmill operators from a village in Butig town, Lanao del Sur, a military official said Tuesday.

 

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), citing initial reports, said the gunmen swooped into Purok 4, Barangay Sandab about 11 a.m. on Monday and rounded up the victims at gunpoint.

 

Tan said Col. Roseller Murillo, commander of the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade, reported that the gunmen were members of  the Maute group, a local militant group that attacked a military detachment and occupied villages in Butig town in February. They were flushed out after a week-long military offensive.

 

Soldiers who cleared the Maute group's camp found training manuals and paraphernalia that suggested the group was trying to get support from the Islamic State. 

 

RELATED: Troops overrun terrorist camp in Lanao del Sur

 

The gunmen escaped with the captive sawmill operators. The military is searching for them in parts of Lanao del Sur province.

 

Tan said the gunmen have not relayed any demands in exchange for the release of the victims.