Philippine President: The Maute group was founded by former police officers.

President Rodrigo Duterte revealed yesterday that the Maute rebel group, which is fighting the military in Marawi City, was founded by two former police officers involved in illegal drug trafficking.

"These are police officers in Manila who became greedy for money from methamphetamine," President Duterte said. "They came back here and set up one of the biggest drug factories in Lanao del Sur," he said. The money from the drug trade was used to "incite the movement."

Omar Maute and Abdullah Maute, the two founders of the Maute militant group. Photo: Philstar.

These two former police officers recruited members, acquired local weapons supplies, and turned the drug cartel into an "enemy" of the government.

Through the Maute group, the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (IS) was able to enter the Philippines. "You could say IS was here," Duterte said, pointing out that the group was using the IS flag. However, some members joined for other reasons, possibly due to resentment towards certain politicians or anger towards the government.

Duterte claimed that Maute had even "imported" Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of the Abu Sayyaf group, who is considered by ISIS to be its leader in the Philippines.

According to VnExpress