Hapilon reportedly has been chosen to lead an Islamic State group branch in Southeast Asia and is on the US Department of Justice list of most-wanted terrorists worldwide, with a reward of up to US$5 million for his capture. Ano said nearly 50 gunmen in all managed to enter the bustling commercial city of more than 200,000 people. The Maute group is one of less than a dozen new armed Muslim groups that have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and formed a loose alliance in the southern Philippines in recent years. Last month, troops backed by airstrikes killed dozens of Maute militants and captured their jungle camp near Lanao del Sur's Piagapo town. Troops found homemade bombs, grenades, combat uniforms and passports of suspected Indonesian militants in the camp, the military said.

Source: Bangkok Post May 23, 2017 15:33 UTC