Maute leaders’ kin face raps for guns, explosives
Improvised explosive devices, unlicensed guns and ammunition were seized at the house of Farhana Maute, mother of Abdullah and Omar Maute, founders of the Dawlah Islamiya or Maute terror group in Marawi City on Tuesday. File photo
LANAO DEL SUR, Philippines – The mother and five other relatives of the leaders of the Maute group face charges after a raid on their houses yielded bombs and firearms, police said yesterday.
Improvised explosive devices, unlicensed guns and ammunition were seized at the house of Farhana Maute, mother of Abdullah and Omar Maute, founders of the Dawlah Islamiya or Maute terror group in Marawi City on Tuesday.
Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as well as personnel of the Army’s 65th Infantry Battalion and Lanao police also found firearms at the houses of Abdullah, Kyayam, Hamsah, Abdulazis and Mahathir, all surnamed Maute.
The subjects of the search warrant were not present during the raid, but several occupants of their houses were arrested.
Scout Ranger killed
Meanwhile, an Army Scout Ranger was killed while another soldier was wounded in an encounter with members of the Maute group in a village in Butig, Lanao del Sur yesterday.
Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) commander, said soldiers belonging to the First Scout Ranger Co. clashed with around 60 militants in Barangay Sandab at around 7 a.m.
The soldier was the second fatality from government forces since the clashes with the militants started two weeks ago.
“The operation is ongoing with the Scout Ranger Co. pursuing the militants,” said Maj. Filemon Tan, Westmincom spokesman.
There were reports that the Maute group is being supported by the group of Abdullah Makaapar, alias Commander Bravo, former commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front 102nd base command. – John Unson, Jaime Laude, Roel Pareño
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