More than two years ago, just as the ISIS in the Middle East started making international headlines, the Maute group first emerged in this province’s Butig town. Siblings Omar and Abdulla Maute founded the group, originally named Dawlah Islamiya, but eventually became known as the Maute terror group feared today for its impunity. Somewhere in the same municipality, the late MILF founder Salamat Hashim was laid to rest after he died of a cardiovascular disease in 2003. Early this year, the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf fused ranks, according to local officials here and sources in the Army’s intelligence community. The BIFF, the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute group have a common denominator: that of using the black ISIS flag as their revolutionary banner.

Source: Philippine Star May 25, 2017 17:03 UTC