TWENTY-EIGHT Malaysians have joined Islamic State-backed Maute militants in the war against Philippine forces in Marawi City on Mindanao island, reports the Malaymail Online today.

The involvement of 10 Indonesians and a Singaporean – dubbed foreign jihadists – with the outlawed Maute terror movement has confirmed the suspicion of collaboration among militants from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

“Intelligence from ground operatives disclosed 28 Malaysians arrived in Marawi early last week for a religious event. We suspect there must be more who arrived separately,” a Manila-based intelligence official was quoted as saying.

“Initially, nobody knew what happened to them… but after the deaths of two Malaysians in firefights with the armed forces, we can conclude they too took up arms.”

There are also those from the Middle East in Marawi City or on the outskirts, the official said.

Clashes between Philippine forces and terrorists erupted on Tuesday as authorities tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, reputedly the IS leader in Southeast Asia.

He was seeking refuge in Marawi, and known to spearhead kidnap-for-ransom between the east coastline of Sabah and Jolo, off Mindanao.

The US has placed a US$5 million (RM23 million) bounty for Isnilon’s capture. It is also reported that a former Universiti Malaya lecturer to be the next in line, should Isnilon be captured or killed.

President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law across the southern region of Mindanao, hours after IS-loyalists went on a shooting rampage in the city streets, in response to the raid on the IS-safe house for Isnilon. – May 28, 2017.