Topic: ISIS-linked Maute Group Storms Marawi City, Philippines

[thisyearisouryear]

I am not sure if this has been posted anywhere. Couldn't find any mention. Mods, please close if duplicate.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/philippines-isis-gunmen-soldiers-army-marawi-city-street-battle-terrorist-jihadi-a7751406.html

A group of heavily-armed militants from a group linked to Isis have reportedly stormed a city in the Philippines and engaged in firefights with the national army.

Residents of Marawi City, in the south of the country, were urged to remain indoors as at least 15 gunmen from a Muslim rebel group called Maute stormed the streets brandishing assault rifles.

The group, which is also known as the Islamic State of Lanao, have reportedly received support from Isis.
Troops and a special police force were deployed to the city after residents in a nearby village raised the alarm and appealed for help.

President Rodrigo Duterte then declared martial law and a state of emergency in the province of Mindano. General Eduardo Ano, the military chief of staff, said at least one police officer was killed and eight soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

“I’m appealing to residents of Marawi City to stay home, drop on the ground if they hear gunshots," Mamintal Adiong Jr, the governor of the ​Lanao del Sur province told The Philippine Star newspaper. "They have to lock their doors and gates too."

Local reports suggested that the militants had entered a local hospital and raised a black Isis flag above the roof, although this information was officially verified by the army.

Witnesses reported seeing men in attire similar to that worn by Isis militants walking the streets before firing at houses and government buildings.

"There [were] no indications that an attack like this will happen. There are no checkpoints in the city," one resident said. "Everything is in silence. No news about the city government. Everything is vague."

Other links:
http://www.rappler.com/nation/170729-marawi-city-black-flag-maute
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/23/17/duterte-declares-martial-law-in-mindanao
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/23/17/look-marawi-city-jail-dansalan-college-on-fire
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/898775/govt-troops-clash-with-abus-maute-in-marawi-city

[Purple Red]

Scary world we live in. Here's hoping this situation is brought to a speedy resolution.

[thisyearisouryear]

Yeah The photos and posts from citizens are scary. The city is practically under siege. Seems like they have torched quite a few buildings and seized all the fire-trucks, so nothing can be put out now.

[Broad Spectrum]

My parents in-law are there now. About a 2 hour drive north of General Santos visiting relatives. Still a few hours away from Marawi but still, the exact reason I've been quite hesitant to travel there. Between the now suspended war on drugs, and Islamist terrorist threat, the Phillipines is not looking particularly stable right now.

[thisyearisouryear]

My parents in-law are there now. About a 2 hour drive north of General Santos visiting relatives. Still a few hours away from Marawi but still, the exact reason I've been quite hesitant to travel there. Between the now suspended war on drugs, and Islamist terrorist threat, the Phillipines is not looking particularly stable right now.

Hope they have a safe trip mate.

[CheshireDave]

Mindanao has had problems with Islamic extremism for decades with Abu Sayyaf, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and numerous other groups linked to the Wahhabi doctrine. Kidnappings and bombings are unfortunately nothing new to this island. I visited Bohol last time I was in the Philippines and it is an incredible interesting and beautiful part of the world. That said speaking to the locals and family members from the Philippines they just say parts of the country are like the wild west with corrupt, chronically underfunded and invective policing.

[The Gulleysucker]

...

Some things haven't really changed much over the years...

An amok was a Moro who, for a variety of personal reasons, went berserk and tried to kill as many of the enemy as possible before meeting his own, expected death. Juramentados were perhaps even deadlier, since they were religiously motivated, swore a formal oath before the proper Muslim authority to attack anybody considered to be a foe of Islam, and always struck when and where least expected. Although certain of their own extinction, those fanatics were secure in their belief that they would be whisked to the Muslim paradise for their valorous self-sacrifice, where, among other glories, they would be serviced by 16 virgins.

[Broad Spectrum]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/24/isis-linked-militants-kill-police-chief-and-take-hostages-in-philippines?CMP=fb_gu

Parents in-law are leaving Tampakan in the South as troops entered the village earlier today. My mother in-law is born and bred in the Phillipines, but father in-law is British, safe to say he's pretty concerned! Heading to Cebu tomorrow anyway, brought their flight forward.

[Yorkykopite]

I guess this is because the Philippines went to war in Iraq?

[kaz1983]

Just seen this - my wife's friend's family was taken hostage, not sure of any developments.

[zebenzui]

I guess this is because the Philippines went to war in Iraq?

Very droll.

[thisyearisouryear]

There have been a lot of stories on social media about the terrorists hand-picking and executing non-Muslims in hospitals etc. but nothing confirmed. There is not a lot of news filtering through presumably due to a media blackout. On top of that, there are quite a few conflicting reports. Military is saying they have sequestered the terrorists while on the other hand IS supporters claiming that they have taken the city.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-militants-idUSKBN18O049?il=0

Bodies of what appeared to be executed civilians were found in a ravine outside a besieged Philippine city on Sunday as a six-day occupation by Islamist rebels fending off a military onslaught took a more sinister turn.

The eight dead, most of them shot in the head and some with hands tied behind their backs, were laborers who were stopped by Islamic State-linked militants on the outskirts of Marawi City while trying to flee clashes, according to police.

Nine spent bullet casings were found on a blood-stained patch of road at the top of the ravine. Attached to one of the bodies was a sign that said "Munafik" (traitor).

The discovery confirms days of speculation that Maute rebels had killed civilians during a takeover of Marawi, that the military believes is aimed at winning the Maute recognition from the Islamic State as a Southeast Asian affiliate.

The fierce resistance of the Maute gunmen and the apparent executions of civilians will add to growing fears that subscribers to Islamic State's radical ideology are determined to establish a presence in the southern Philippines, with the support of extremists from Indonesia and Malaysia.

The army deployed more ground troops over the weekend and dispatched army and air force helicopters to carry out rocket strikes on Maute positions as fighters held buildings and a bridge deep inside a predominantly Muslim city where few civilians remained.

Some of those trapped in Marawi had called and text-messaged a hotline pleading with the military to stop the air strikes, according to Zia Alonto Adiong, a local politician coordinating complex efforts to evacuate civilians, dead and alive.

"Some have no food at all. Some fear for their lives," he told Reuters.

"This is a conflict that has gone beyond proportion. The magnitude of the degree of the damage and the people that are affected ... it's really massive."

At least 61 militants were killed and 15 security forces as of Saturday, according to the army, which said it could confirm nine civilians killed by militants.

At the ravine where the bodies were found, Marawi police officer Jamail C Mangadang said the victims were carpenters who were part of an evacuation convoy stopped by rebels late on Saturday.

Recalling information provided by their manager, Mangadang said the victims were pulled off a truck because they were unable to cite verses of the Koran, the Islamic holy text.

BRAZEN SIEGE

The military said it was possible there were others victims.

"This development validates a series of reports of atrocities committed by the militants earlier," said military spokesman, Restituto Padilla.

"We are still validating other reports of atrocities."

Islamic State's Amaq news agency last week claimed responsibility for the Maute's brazen siege. Unverified statements claiming to be from the extremists have appeared online, declaring the city of 200,000 people the "Islamic City of Marawi".

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday canceled a trip to Japan to address the unrest in Mindanao, an island of 22 million people where martial law has been declared. Police on Sunday outlawed guns there and suspended all weapons permits.
Bodies of what appeared to be executed civilians were found in a ravine outside a besieged Philippine city on Sunday as a six-day occupation by Islamist rebels fending off a military onslaught took a more sinister turn.

The eight dead, most of them shot in the head and some with hands tied behind their backs, were laborers who were stopped by Islamic State-linked militants on the outskirts of Marawi City while trying to flee clashes, according to police.

Nine spent bullet casings were found on a blood-stained patch of road at the top of the ravine. Attached to one of the bodies was a sign that said "Munafik" (traitor).

The discovery confirms days of speculation that Maute rebels had killed civilians during a takeover of Marawi, that the military believes is aimed at winning the Maute recognition from the Islamic State as a Southeast Asian affiliate.

The fierce resistance of the Maute gunmen and the apparent executions of civilians will add to growing fears that subscribers to Islamic State's radical ideology are determined to establish a presence in the southern Philippines, with the support of extremists from Indonesia and Malaysia.

The army deployed more ground troops over the weekend and dispatched army and air force helicopters to carry out rocket strikes on Maute positions as fighters held buildings and a bridge deep inside a predominantly Muslim city where few civilians remained.

Some of those trapped in Marawi had called and text-messaged a hotline pleading with the military to stop the air strikes, according to Zia Alonto Adiong, a local politician coordinating complex efforts to evacuate civilians, dead and alive.

"Some have no food at all. Some fear for their lives," he told Reuters.

"This is a conflict that has gone beyond proportion. The magnitude of the degree of the damage and the people that are affected ... it's really massive."

At least 61 militants were killed and 15 security forces as of Saturday, according to the army, which said it could confirm nine civilians killed by militants.

At the ravine where the bodies were found, Marawi police officer Jamail C Mangadang said the victims were carpenters who were part of an evacuation convoy stopped by rebels late on Saturday.

Recalling information provided by their manager, Mangadang said the victims were pulled off a truck because they were unable to cite verses of the Koran, the Islamic holy text.

BRAZEN SIEGE

The military said it was possible there were others victims.

"This development validates a series of reports of atrocities committed by the militants earlier," said military spokesman, Restituto Padilla.

"We are still validating other reports of atrocities."

Islamic State's Amaq news agency last week claimed responsibility for the Maute's brazen siege. Unverified statements claiming to be from the extremists have appeared online, declaring the city of 200,000 people the "Islamic City of Marawi".

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday canceled a trip to Japan to address the unrest in Mindanao, an island of 22 million people where martial law has been declared. Police on Sunday outlawed guns there and suspended all weapons permits.

[thisyearisouryear]

I guess this is because the Philippines went to war in Iraq?

Yes of course. ISIS is just a big agency of retribution.

[Broad Spectrum]

Shooting and Explosions Erupt at Casino Resort in Manila

[zero zero]

Shooting and Explosions Erupt at Casino Resort in Manila

Oh dear. That sounds like a story that's only going to get worse.

Hope everyone's loved one are safe