Malacañan Palace recently responded to the US Treasury Department decision to sanction several terror organizations based in Africa and Asia, including the Maute Group and ISIS-Philippines, calling it a “positive development.”

“This reaffirms our long-held belief that the Maute Group is composed of local terrorists aided by foreign extremists,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. in a statement. “The official designation of the Maute Group as an affiliate group of ISIS and its inclusion in the US list of foreign terrorist organizations are positive developments in the campaign against terrorism.”

Towards the end of last month, the US Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control revealed the latest additions, indicating the implementation of sanctions.

“All property and interests in property of these persons subject to US jurisdiction are blocked,” said a statement by the Treasury Department. “US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.”

The US State Department also took note of the additions, stating, “These designations are part of a larger comprehensive plan to defeat ISIS.”

The Maute Group was behind last year’s siege on Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, which left over 1,000 dead, with a majority of the casualties being militant fighters./PLL, WDJ