Alleged Malaysian financier of Marawi siege still alive: military 

October 12, 2017

MARAWI CITY — An alleged Malaysian militant  who is among key foreign planners and financier of the attack by the Maute-Abu Sayyaf Group in this city is still alive, a military official said Thursday.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Army’s Western Mindanao Command chief, said Mahmud Ahmad, a Malaysian professor is among the terrorists defending their last defense with Isnilon Hapilon, the head of the Islamic State in Mindanao, and Omar Maute, a leader of the Maute group.

“Dr. Mahmud is alive along with Hapilon and Omar. But our troops are determined to neutralize them as we are making our final push,” Galvez said.

Galvez said aside from Mahmud six to eight foreign militants are still in the frontline.

Earlier, the military reported Mahmud’s right hand,  Muham­mad Joraimee Awang Raimee, 42, was killed along with 15 militants during bombings.

Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., deputy commander of Joint Task Group Ranao, said government forces are closing in on the enemy who are holding 42 hostages.

Brawner said deaths on the government side reached 160 while  811 from the enemy side were killed.

Some 22 cadavers were found on Tuesday and the military has asked the police to speed up identifying the bodies, the military said. DMS