Maute sister, fleeing terrorists nabbed

MANILA, Philippines -  A sister of the brothers Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute was arrested on a ship with two suspected terrorists near the Iloilo port yesterday.

Capt. Leopoldo Panopio, Coast Guard commander in Northern Mindanao, withheld the name of the sister but said she was arrested while on board 2GO’s MV St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The woman was first spotted at the port of Cagayan de Oro on Saturday night, Panopio said.

 One of her two companions, identified as Miks Jadid Romato, reportedly had a newly amputated leg.

In Zamboanga del Sur, police arrested over the weekend 13 suspected Maute militants in a hospital in Pagadian City.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Billy Beltran said the suspects, including three women, were arrested at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center while being treated for wounds on Friday. One of the suspects is reportedly in critical condition.

The 13 reportedly came from Marawi City where government troops have been fighting Maute terrorists for almost four weeks.

Beltran said the hospital staff alerted the police about the suspects, two of them with wounds and injuries apparently sustained in gunbattle.

Beltran said the local police immediately conducted investigation and confirmed the suspects came from Marawi City.

Police identified the suspects as Junaid Dimarugong, who is in critical condition; Racma Macatuon Talib, Cosnia Talib, Yusoph Taha Halil, Sapacan Sabar Talib, Mansawi Imam Gumobat, Amerodin Capga Ameril, Lambo Ampaso Ameril, Huwarda Macatuon Talib, Sanabae Saliling Macatuon, Dima Ampaso Ali, Halil Saliling Ali and Alanoden Macatuon Dimarugong.

Zamboanga del Sur provincial police director Supt. Sofronio Elcadre said Dimarugong and Halil Ali were found positive of gunpowder burns during a paraffin test.

Beltran said the 13 suspects were immediately placed under tight security.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Alan Navarro said the profiles of the 11 others who accompanied Dimarugong to the hospital have been sent to the regional police for confirmation if they are members of the Maute group.

Government security forces continued their alert in the province following information that some of the Islamic State-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf gunmen who stormed Marawi City last month reportedly slipped through the military dragnet.

The military said some of the extremists may have mingled with the evacuees and slipped away during the battle of Marawi that enters its fifth week Tuesday.

Security had been tightened in the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro and authorities there are on the lookout for escaping Maute gunmen.

Last week, Mohammad Noaim Maute, alias Abu Jadid, a cousin of brother Omar and Abdullah leading the extremist group fighting government troops in Marawi, was arrested in Cagayan de Oro City.

Officials said Jadid is a bomb maker of the Maute group.

The Department of Justice indicted Jadid for rebellion under the arrest order issued by the Department of National Defense acting as martial law implementer.

Earlier, the DOJ has already indicted several arrested members and supporters of Maute, including Cayamora Maute and Ominta Romato, alias Farhana, parents of the Maute brothers who led the group behind the attack in Marawi City last May 23.

Also charged with rebellion before the Cagayan de Oro Regional Trial Court was former Marawi City mayor Fajad Salic.

They have been brought to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig for more secured detention.