The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is now moving to track down Abu Dar, a senior member of the Maute Group.
According to the AFP, Abu Dar, was one of the members of the Maute Group, who planned the Marawi Seige. He was seen in the video where he was planning their moves along with Maute Brothers – brothers Omar and Abdullah Maute – and Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.
Now that all of the seven Mautes, who are tagged terrorists, and Hapilon were dead, Dar is expected to assume leadership of the group.
“Abu Dar can likely assume the leadership of the Maute terror group,” Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr. told members of the RPOC, chaired by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman.
Hataman said there are “good Mautes” who are neither militants nor supporters of the terrorist groups but were forced to go underground as a consequence of their relatives’ actions. He said they will never be treated as terrorists.
“We will not treat them as special people. We can only help them return to their communities but subject to coordination with the police and the military,” Hataman said.
ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman seconded it saying his daughter knew a Maute in the medical school who was forced to drop out because of the surname.
The ARMM administration and national government are now vigilant to prevent such violence to happen again.