Philippine soldiers (Photo: alwaght.com) Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine police announced on November 1 that they have arrested an Indonesian militant who joined gunmen loyal to the Islamic State in a five-month battle in the southern Philippine city of Marawi.
They arrested the 22-year-old Indonesian after Marawi authorities found him trying to flee, adding he would face rebellion and terrorism charges.
They also seized a gun, a grenade and an undisclosed sum in Philippine, Indonesian and Saudi Arabian currencies from the militant.
The militant from Indonesia’s Medan city arrived in the Philippines last year upon the invitation of the Filipino head of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon, provincial police chief Senior Superintendent John Guyguyon cited the gunman's account given to interrogators as saying.
His group was involved in a 2016 suicide attack that killed eight people in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. He is part of the siege in a military operation in April in Piagapo, a town 45 minutes away from Marawi.
Hundreds of local and foreign gunmen who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State rampaged through Marawi on May 23. They took over parts of the city using civilians as human shields.
Clashes claimed more than 1,100 lives, displaced 400,000 residents and destroyed large parts of the city.
After the five-month US-backed military campaign, the Philippine army declared the liberation of Marawi from militants.
However, there are still about 20 militants hiding in Marawi, according to local officials.-VNA
VNA
