Gov’t now investigating source of funds of Islamist terrorists
(Eagle News) — Members of the Philippine Marines have recovered more than P78 million worth of combined cash and checks in a house in Marawi City which had been used as a machine gun position of the Islamist militants, including the Maute group.
The cash recovered amounted to P52 million, while the checks found there amounted to P23.7 million.
The money and checks were already turned over to Joint Task Force Marawi, as authorities start an investigation into the names on the checks as well as the recipients on the signed checks.
“Right now we are still investigating the incident,” said Jo-Al Herrera, first infantry division spokesperson.
Herrera said that they know that the Maute group was “well-connected” and has supporters and sympathizers, and they are now trying to establish the facts of their case.
The military said the money was found inside a vault in the house.
The Philippines has been battling since May 23 the various Islamist terror groups reportedly led by Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who had already pledged allegiance to the international terror group ISIS.
The groups included the Maute group, the Abu Sayyaf Group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), according to former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.
In an April 2016 issue of the Islamic State’s weekly newsletter Al Naba, the jihadist group even said that Hapilon (who was called Abu Abdullah al Filipini, one of his noms de guerre, in the newsletter) has been appointed as emir of all Islamic State forces in the Philippines.
Gonzales said that Hapilon had been in Marawi for the past six months, giving him enough time to recruit and organize the various Islamist terror groups in the city.
He said he had even received intelligence information that Hapilon had required families of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to give him seven fighters each for his terror group.