The military yesterday denied that there would be another attack as massive as the Marawi City siege by the Maute Group in 2017 amid a three-day religious convention.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner, commander of the 103rd Infantry “Haribon” Brigade based in Marawi City, said “there is no truth” to the claims of another siege in the capital city of Lanao del Sur as he dismissed reports of alleged presence of Islamic State-inspired terrorists in the area.
A three-day “Juhor,” or a convention of local and foreign Muslim leaders, is being held at Abubakr Masjid (Markaz), Basak Malutlut starting yesterday.
“The Juhor has been coordinated with the security sector a month ago, and soldiers and policemen have been deployed in the area to ensure a peaceful conduct of this holy activity,” Brawner said, citing the provincial government of Lanao del Sur.
According to Brawner, participants of the Juhor vowed that they would police their own ranks to avoid any infiltration from foreign or local terrorists.
“Security measures are already in place,” he noted.
As part of its security measures, Brawner said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has required the participants of the convention to submit the names of foreign participants for monitoring and counter-checking.
Muslim soldiers have also joined in the event, he noted.
Furthermore, Brawner emphasized that all concerned agencies, including the provincial government, municipal mayors, religious and community leaders, and security sector “are working together to ensure that the Marawi siege in 2017 will not be repeated again.” (Martin Sadongdong)
