MANILA, Philippines — Following the defeat of Maute terrorists in Marawi City, the military on Friday said it is monitoring a small ISIS-inspired militant group it said is capable of carrying out deadly attacks. Abu Turaife has been monitored to be planning bombings in the south, Duterte saidWithout going into detail, Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office, said the military cannot underestimate Abu Turaife’s 22-member group. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1“Kasama po sila sa itinuturing nating malaking banta sapagkat ang grupo po ni Abu Turaife ay may leaning towards extremism (They are considered a major threat since Abu Turaife's group leans towards extremism),” he added. Abu Turaife had been described in some reports as a commander of a breakaway group from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. But the president said jihadist fighters who escaped the Marawi battle were actively recruiting to carry out future assaults.

Source: Philippine Star December 15, 2017 07:30 UTC