Maute fighters retreat to Butig's fringes, plant booby traps | ABS-CBN

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Maute fighters retreat to Butig's fringes, plant booby traps

Maute fighters retreat to Butig's fringes, plant booby traps

ABS-CBN News

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Updated Dec 01, 2016 06:05 PM PHT

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BUTIG, Lanao Del Sur - State forces have flushed out the Maute terror group from the heart of this town and are now conducting clearing operations for booby traps left by the ISIS-linked fighters.

The Philippine Army on Thursday recaptured Butig's unused town hall which served as the last stronghold of Maute terrorists after soldiers retook the madrasa, national high school and other vital installations.

As of the latest report from the Armed Forces, 61 terrorists have been killed while 35 soldiers have been injured.

The military said there will be no let-up in its offensive even as the Maute Group retreats to their camps in the town's fringes.

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"The town is deserted and the Maute is withdrawing towards the mountain," said military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla.

"They have been decimated. The capability to sustain and get back to the fight is no longer there."

ABS-CBN News is still seeking clearance to enter the town center, which is expected to have sustained heavy damage from the artillery and bombs which killed dozens of rebels.

The Maute group is being linked to the Sept. 2 bombing in Duterte's home city, Davao, which killed 14 people and wounded more than 70.

The Maute group is being linked to the Sept. 2 bombing in Duterte's home city, Davao, which killed 14 people and wounded more than 70.

Last week, Duterte offered an olive branch to Maute, questioning why it wanted to take orders from Islamic State.

"Maute, they are inspired by ISIS," Duterte said in a speech, using an abbreviation that refers to Islamic State. "I did not want to wage a war against my own countrymen. Please do not force my hand."

But he vowed not to relent.

"When the time comes, it's going to be a war against terrorism and drugs and I will tell you now, I will be harsh," Duterte said. "As harsh as I can ever be."

Separately, two persons of interest were taken into police custody Wednesday over the planting of a homemade bomb near the U.S. embassy. The device was detonated safely by police, who suspect the Maute of being behind it.

The Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade also said Maute sympathizers may have been responsible for an ambush that wounded seven presidential guards and two soldiers in Butig, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday.

-- With reports from Chiara Zambrano, Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News; Reuters

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More than 11,000 foreign POGO workers still in the Philippines past deadline: Pagcor

More than 11,000 foreign POGO workers still in the Philippines past deadline: Pagcor

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

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Operatives of PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group process seized computers and cellphones used for alleged illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming operation in Almanza Uno in Las Pinas City on Monday evening. ABS-CBN News/File


MANILA — Over 22,000 foreign workers from the outlawed Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry had left the Philippines by the end of 2024, a Bureau of Immigration (BI) official told a Senate panel Thursday.

That leaves more than 11,000 of the 33,863 registered foreign POGO workers who are still in the Philippines. 

"So yung mga natitira ho dito na non-compliant, yan po yung subject of our law enforcement operations (So those who stayed are non-complaint, they are the subjects of our law enforcement operations)," BI chief legal officer Arvin Santos told the Senate Committee on Games and Amusements.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) told the panel that prior to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s decision to ban POGOs, there were 42 internet gaming licenses, 7 gaming content providers, and 11 support providers in the industry.

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All the licenses of those firms have been cancelled, Pagcor Assistant Vice President for Offshore Gaming Licensing Department Jessa Mariz Fernandez told the panel.

"As of January 1, 2025 po, all 42 internet gaming licensees and all 18 authorized providers are already canceled po," Fernandez said.

Pagcor Senior Vice President for Security and Monitoring Cluster Raul Villanueva told the panel that that those left behind have gone on "guerrilla" operations — a term authorities use for smaller operations run in secret .

"We have plenty of targets now because some of these have gone on guerrilla operations already," Villanueva said.

Villanueva said they have gotten emails from concerned citizens complaining about these rogue POGOs.

Pagcor also said they have reported about 276 illegal websites, which included e-sabong, online casino games, and others connected with POGO. However, only 136 have been blocked.

Marcos banned POGOs last year after these were linked to illegal activities like kidnapping, online scams, human trafficking and even torture.

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