MANILA, Philippines — The United States has designated the Islamic State (IS)-linked Maute group as a foreign terrorist organization.
Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella told a press briefing yesterday that the US designated the Maute group as “ISIS-Philippines,” belonging to specially designated global terrorists along with ISIS West Africa and ISIS Bangladesh, using the expanded acronym of the terror group.
The Maute group was behind last year’s siege of Marawi City which left at least 1,131 people dead, including 919 militants and 165 soldiers and policemen.
The Maute was also held responsible for the September 2016 Davao market bombing, which killed 15 people and wounded 70 others, and the attempted bomb attack in November 2016 near the US embassy in Manila.
“On the US designation of ISIS affiliates as terrorist organizations, the Philippines welcomes the US designation of ISIS Philippines and the Maute group as foreign terrorist organizations, and specially designated global terrorists,” Abella said.
Abella stressed that terrorism is a global and regional challenge, and cooperation with key allies is critical in averting terrorist operations.
While the government concluded a campaign in Marawi against the Maute group, Abella said countering terrorism continues to be a priority of the Duterte administration.
“We are profoundly committed to preventing ISIS from gaining foothold in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia, and we should continue working together on this objective,” he said.
The US Department of State designated three IS-affiliated groups – ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Philippines and ISIS-Bangladesh – as specially designated global terrorists and as foreign terrorist organizations pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
As a result of these designations, Americans are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with these groups.
The groups’ property and interests in property subject to US jurisdiction are blocked. It is also a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to the organizations.
Apart from the Maute group, the US State Department has also designated four other IS-affiliated groups and two IS-affiliated leaders as specially designated global terrorists.
The groups are ISIS-Somalia, Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia, ISIS-Egypt and individuals Mahad Moalim and Abu Musab al-Barnawi.
In June 2016, IS published a video of militants in the Philippines pledging allegiance to the Islamic group.
In the video, militants encouraged Muslims to join the terrorist group and support IS’s efforts in the region under the command of now-deceased specially designated global terrorist Isnilon Hapilon, recognized by IS as the group’s leader in the Philippines.
The Department of National Defense (DND) said the inclusion of the Maute group in the foreign terrorist organization list only reinforces government’s monitoring and findings on the presence of local and foreign jihadists in the country.
DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said this development also highlights the need to deal with terrorist groups using the full force of the law.
He added the terror tag will now deny the terrorist groups access to the US financial system and they will face sanctions deemed appropriate, making it more difficult for them to conduct their activities in the Philippines and anywhere in the world.
Brig. Gen. Bienvenido Datuin Jr., spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the US actions will invariably help Philippine authorities in addressing the presence of IS-inspired local and foreign terrorists in the country.
“The addition of terrorist groups in the US terror lists falls within the right of the US as well as every government in the world to distinguish such groups as may be provided by the law in the particular country,” Datuin said.
For the Philippines, the US declaration is an added advantage in the government’s fight against terror as this will now deal and identify the money trail, financial sources, logistics lines and conduits of these local and foreign terrorists with other countries, Datuin said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) also welcomed the inclusion of the Maute in the foreign terrorist organization list.
“That is good news for us because we will have more reasons to go after this group,” PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said. – Jaime Laude, Emmanuel Tupas