The Maute group had established a stronghold in Lanao del Sur since February 2016 and was blamed for the 2016 Davao City bombing and two attacks in Butig , Lanao del Sur , a town located south of Marawi , in 2016 . Since the militant group 's founding in 2013 , the Philippine government has downplayed the threat of ISIS in the Philippines . Following the February 2016 Butig clash with the Maute group , then-President Benigno Aquino III discounted the possibility of the Islamic State 's presence in the country . He said that those behind the attack were just mercenaries wanting to be recognized by the Middle East-based terror group
2016 Davao City bombing
2016 Davao City bombing
Battle of Marawi