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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PNP steps up drive vs child warrior recruitment after 3 minors arrested in clash with Maute in Lanao del Sur

PNP steps up drive vs child warrior recruitment after 3 minors arrested in clash with Maute in Lanao del Sur

Published Aug 11, 2025 01:15 pm

At A Glance

  • Three people died in the clash and PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the three minors are now under the custody of the Philippine Army and will soon be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Policemen and soldiers conduct inventory of seized materials after a fierce clash with Maute Group fighters in Lanao del Sur on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (photo: CIDG)
Policemen and soldiers conduct inventory of seized materials after a fierce clash with Maute Group fighters in Lanao del Sur on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (photo: CIDG)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is stepping up its peace and development information drive to counter the propaganda of the remnants of terror groups in Mindanao following the arrest of three minors after a fierce firefight between government troops and the Dawlah Islamiya Maute Group (DI-MG) in Lanao del Sur.
Three people died in the clash and PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the three minors are now under the custody of the Philippine Army and will soon be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Ever since, the recruitment of child warriors has been the modus of the Maute because they know that government troops would treat them differently in the battlefield. This is what makes this child warrior recruitment really detestable,” said Torre.
“That is why part of our preemptive measures is to debunk their propaganda in the recruitment. This is a whole of government approach,” he added.
On Aug. 9, operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), backed by Army troopers, raided the lair of the Maute Group in Barangay Lamin, in Lumbayanague town to serve arrest warrants against its leader  Amerol Usman and some members.
CIDG director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said the operation resulted in the arrest of three minors and the death of three Maute members, including a woman.
Abarahano said operating teams discovered and an M4A1 Colt caliber 5.56mm rifle, a 45 pistol,  a hand grenade, a  rocket propelled grenade (RPG), a homemade M79 grenade launcher, 13 pieces of improvised explosive device blasting caps,  two pieces black  ISIS flags, one volt for M16 A1 rifle, assorted magazines, rounds of assorted live ammunition, and fired cartridge cases .
Usman, the alleged Amir or leader of the DI Maute Group - ISIS, and other armed men were able to flee.
Torre, for his part, said they are now coordinating with the military in preparing to thwart any attempt for a retaliatory attack by the Maute Group.
He assured the public that the Maute Group is already incapable of launching big attacks similar to the Marawi siege.
“We want to assure our kababayan that we are in control of the situation,” Torre stressed.
Right now, Torre said they are hunting down all the remnants of the Maute Group and the Lanao del Sur operation is proof that the government is bent on ending crushing the group.
Torre said that the Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group in Mindanao are all composed of locals.
“But if we ever monitor the presence of foreign fighters, we will certainly prioritize them,” said Torre.
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