ZAMBOANGA CITY and LANAO DEL SUR, Philippines — A military official leading troops against the Maute group in Marawi said the demise of the clan patriarch will have a big effect on the morale of the militant group, members of whom are still holed up in the city.
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said the death of the elder Maute will not change the perception of troops and Marawi residents on the atrocities committed by the Maute group, which has declared allegiance for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Galvez said they are also looking at the possibility that the terrorist group will take advantage of Cayamora's death and use it as propaganda to increase the sympathy of its members.
“We are also looking at the possibility na mas lalong maging aggressive ang grupo ng Maute,” Galvez added.
Galvez said all forces under Westmincom are already on heightened alert against related attacks.
“We are not taking chances. These are terrorists and the only language they speak is terrorism,” Galvez said.
Local governments assure security forces of support
Galvez said local officials in provinces, towns and cities under Westmincom have assured the military that they will help thwart any attempted incursions by the Maute terrorists into their turf in reaction to Cayamora’s death.
Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said municipal police offices in Lanao del Sur and in Maguindanao have also been on full alert since Sunday night after news of Cayamora’s death circulated on social media.
Security has also been markedly tight since Monday morning in Cotabato City and in towns in North Cotabato, both under Region 12.
Local officials in Cotabato City were instrumental in the earlier arrests of several local Islamic militants identified with the Maute terror group.
Police Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, director of Police Regional Office 9, said police have also been ordered to be on alert across the Zamboanga peninsula.
Beltran said police are also submitting cases against 58 suspected Maute recruits arrest on July 25 in Zamboanga City and in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay to the Department of Justice.
“We submit to the decision of the DOJ... At the same time, our police forces will continue on security alert to prevent any group from the possibility of being recruited by the Maute group,” Beltran said.
Maute clan emotional over death, kin say
Cayamora Maute reportedly died of kidney failure while detained in Manila on rebellion charges in connection with the ongoing strife in Marawi City instigated by terrorists led by his sons Omar and Abdullah.
Relatives of Omar and Abdullah on the maternal side told reporters the Maute clan in Lanao del Sur province has been emotional about the demise of Cayamora.
“The leaders of the Maute group are hooked on shabu, so, naturally, their reasoning ability and comprehension are so bad. They do not believe he died of a natural death,” said a cousin of Farhana, mother of the Maute siblings.
Cousins of Cayamora in Marantao, Lanao del Sur warned of possible attacks on non-military targets by followers of Omar and Abdullah.
Marawi City, which has more than 90 barangays, is the capital of Lanao del Sur.
Mayors in Lanao del Sur had earlier declared war on the Maute terror group via a manifesto drafted two weeks ago in support of government efforts to clear Marawi City of terrorists.
The conflict in Marawi city erupted after Maute terrorists laid siege to strategic areas there on May 23, speaking hostilities that have since dragged on.