TEMPO.CO, Samarinda - Mulawarman Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Sonhadji confirmed that no members of a Philippine rebel group Maute have escaped to or entered Indonesia. However, Sonhadji admitted that the infiltration could happen if the group ran out of logistics.

“They are the remaining members of the Islamic State (ISIS) who ran away from the Middle East and formed the Maute group. Currently, the Philippine Military is attacking them,” Sonhadji said in Samarinda today, June 6.

“Sooner or later they will need logistics, and they will run out of supplies due to attacks [from the Philippine military]. They will escape either to Kalimantan or North Maluku,” he said.

In order to anticipate escaping members of the Maute group from Mindanao to Indonesian territories, the Indonesian Military has deployed personnel to secure borders between the two countries.

According to Sonhadji, Indonesia can be reached in 4 hours from Marawi. Therefore, Sonhadji revealed that the Indonesian Military will intensify patrols and work with other institutions to secure ports in bordering areas.

“All military personnel and village supervisory non-commissioned personnel (Babina) must monitor their respective villages to prevent infiltrators,” Sonhadji added.

To this date, the Indonesian Military has deployed 700 personnel in border areas in North Kalimantan.

SAPRI MAULANA