Maute family flown to Manila
Handout photos show Cayamora Maute and his family being escorted to a C-130 plane that brought them to Manila on Wednesday night.
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The military has transferred custody of Cayamora Maute and three other family members to Manila, citing security concerns.
Authorities have been bracing for the possibility that the Maute group might try to rescue Cayamora and the three others if they would be kept in custody here.
Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao deputy commander Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said the Mautes were transferred early yesterday morning to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig after they underwent inquest proceedings before the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office and charged with rebellion and illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
Cayamora, father of the Maute brothers fighting government forces in Marawi City, was apprehended at a checkpoint in Barangay Sirawan by the military-led Task Force Davao last Tuesday.
The elder Maute was with his daughter Norjannah Balawag, son-in-law Benzarali Tingao and Kongan Alfonso Balawag, believed to be his wife, when their vehicle, driven by Aljon Salazar Ismael, was stopped at the checkpoint on the road to Davao City.
Gapay said the police had released Ismael. “The driver was released because there was nothing that would prove that he was linked to the Mautes,” he said.
Gapay stressed the military is bracing for possible retaliatory attacks following the arrest of the elder Maute and family members.
“We are also prepared in the event of retaliatory or diversionary attacks here in the area of eastern Mindanao,” Gapay said in a press conference yesterday.
“We haven’t received direct reports on plots to rescue but if we look at how the Maute group operates, there was an instance when they rescued ordinary members of the group in Marawi. What more Cayamora, who is the head of the clan? It’s not a remote possibility in Davao while he is detained here,” he said.
Gapay said the military would not risk having custody of the elder Maute and family while a war is ongoing against the extremist group led by brothers Omar and Abdullah.
“We cannot discount the risk. Wherever he is, the risk is there. We know how the Maute group operates. Our security forces are preparing for any eventuality,” he added.
Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the C-130 plane flying the elder Maute and his family landed at Villamor Air Base early yesterday. – With Alexis Romero, Jaime Laude, John Unson, Non Alquitran
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