Government Forces on Lookout for Malaysian Terrorist

Indonesian militant Muhammad Ilham Syahputra .

Manila, Philippines, MINA — Government forces tasked to clear Marawi City’s main battle area are searching for Malaysian terrorist Amin Baku.

Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the Joint Task Force Ranao, said Baku was among several foreign jihadists who took part in the siege of Marawi City on May 23.

“We are still searching for him, whether he is dead or alive. We have to find the body (if he is dead) as we are looking at the possibility that there are still foreign fighters in the area,” Brawner said.

On Wednesday, village watchmen assisting government forces in securing the city from the terrorists arrested Indonesian Muhammad Ilham Syahputra while he was trying to escape from the city.

Following Syahputra’s arrest, government troops killed two Maute terrorists, one of them identified as Abu Talja, a trusted man of slain Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.

Brawner, however, said the military has no actual figure as to how many foreign jihadists and local terrorists are still hiding in the main battle zone.

Issue of the remaining foreign jihadists

Syahputra had claimed there are 39 foreigners and Maute terrorists still holed up in the area.

“We don’t have their number and we don’t believe him (Syahputra) because he kept on changing his statements,” Brawner said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military is assessing the Indonesian’s claims that there are still stragglers in Marawi.

He added the AFP is still continuing clearing operations in the wake of statements of rescued hostages that there are explosives and booby traps left by the terrorists in some areas.

“Based on the revelations of this last foreign national that was captured, he mentioned about 36. But we are still validating that number because there are about three buildings here that seem to house them. And that’s being checked,” Padilla said.

Following his arrest, Syahputra was immediately turned over to the police and flown to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The PNP said Syahputra would be facing charges of rebellion, illegal possession of firearms and explosives and violation of International Humanitarian Law.

Padilla said the AFP wants to have the Indonesian militant prosecuted and convicted of the crimes he committed in Marawi.

While Syahputra could be facing charges in the 2016 suicide attack that killed eight people in Jakarta, Padilla said the Indonesian would remain locked up for the offenses he committed here.

Padilla said it would be up to the Department of Justice to determine if Syahputra will be subjected to extradition. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)