By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
Malacañang welcomed as positive development the inclusion of Maute Group in the United States of America (USA) State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the development proves the Philippine government’s belief that the Maute Group is being aided by foreign elements.
“The official designation of the Maute Group as an affiliate group of ISIS and its inclusion in the US list of foreign terrorist organizations are positive developments in the campaign against terrorism,” Roque said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“This reaffirms our long-held belief that the Maute Group is composed of local terrorists aided by foreign extremists,” he added.
The Palace official also said that the official designation of the group recognizes the Philippine government’s actions against the Maute Group when they laid a five-month siege in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur from May to October last year.
“This likewise recognizes the decisive action we have taken in liberating Marawi from these terrorists, which resulted in the success of the government in thwarting the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the area and the containing of the rebellion from spreading to other parts of the Philippines,” Roque said.
“Terrorism, indeed, knows no borders and the inclusion of the Maute Group in the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists and Foreign Terrorist Organizations as an affiliate group of ISIS shows the solidarity and resolve of the international community to flush out evil forces to make the world safe and secure,” he added.
In a statement posted in its website, the the State Department said that it “has designated three ISIS-affiliated groups – ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Philippines, and ISIS-Bangladesh – as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 and as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
“The Department has also designated four other ISIS-affiliated groups and two ISIS-affiliated leaders as SDGTs under Section 1(b) of E.O. 13224. The groups are ISIS-Somalia, Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia, ISIS-Egypt, and the MauteGroup, and the individuals are Mahad Moalim and Abu Musab al-Barnawi,” the US top diplomatic agency added.
As a result of the designations, US persons are now prohibited from engaging in transactions with ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Philippines, or ISIS-Bangladesh.
“The groups’ property and interests in property subject to US jurisdiction are blocked. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to the organizations,” the State Department said.