Moslem leaders back assault on Lanao del Sur terrorists

MARAWI CITY (PNA) -- Moslem leaders were backing the raid of the compound of the Maute Group in Marawi City, a top official of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) in Northern Mindanao said Thursday.Lawyer Ombra C. Gandamra, NCMF regional director, said that the raid on the Maute compound last Tuesday was part of the military hot pursuit operation against the leaders of the local terrorist group.He said that armed with search warrants, the government troopers stormed the houses of several members of the Maute group for alleged possession of explosives and firearms and illegal drugs.Gandamra said that the Maguindanao court issued a search warrant against the residence of Farhana R. Maute, Abdullah R. Maute, Mohammad Khayam, Abdulrhaman R. Maute, Mahater R. Maute, Abdul Azis R. Maute, Hamsa R. Maute and Mahater R. Maute, all residents of Marawi City.Gandamra also reminded the Maute group that a terroristic activity is against Islamic teachings and Islamic values. The Maute group knew the Islamic teachings and values by heart because the Koran taught them about Islamic values when they were still very young, Gandamra said.He said that he would pray and always hope that the Maute group would be enlightened a give peace to the people of Lanao and elsewhere in Mindanao.The Moslem communities in Mindanao extend full support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s peace and reconciliation initiative, while encouraging all to participate in the government’s peace process, Gandamra said. (PNA)