Alleged Maute leader nabbed at Davao City checkpoint
A police officer holds a poster of wanted militants known as "Maute " group at a checkpoint set up at the entrance to Iligan City on Saturday, May 27, 2017 in Mindanao. Iligan city is one of the safe havens for the tens of thousands of Marawi residents who have fled their city following the rampage by Muslim militants. AP/Bullit Marquez
MANILA, Philippines – (Updated 6:06 p.m.) An alleged leader of the Maute terror group and four others were apprehended at a Davao City checkpoint on Tuesday morning.
Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, confirmed in a press briefing Tuesday afternoon that authorities nabbed Cayamora Maute at a checkpoint in Sirawan in the Toril district around 10 a.m.
The checkpoint was manned by personnel of both the Davao City Police Office and by the Army's 10th Infantry Division.
“This is a big blow to the Maute terrorist group,” Gapay said, saying Cayamora is one of the brains of the group. He is also said to be the patriarch of the Maute clan.
READ: Duterte bestows ISIS status on Maute group
The four others arrested with him were identified as Norhana Maute (daughter of Cayamora), Benzarali Tingao (husband of Farhana), Congan Alfonso Balauag (second wife of Cayamora) and Aljon Salazar Israel (driver).
Gapay said the officers manning the checkpoint became suspicious after they saw a man covered in a blanket, with his face hidden under a pile of clothes.
The suspects were able to present identification cards, he added.
LOOK: Photos of wanted Maute member Cayamora Maute following his arrest at Sirawan, Toril, Davao City. | via Edith Regalado pic.twitter.com/O1jFATtH7k
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) June 6, 2017
“Upon further verification, a person resembled one of the suspected, wanted Maute group in our photo gallery, which are displayed in our checkpoints,” Gapay said. “They were immediately brought to Davao City Police Office for further verification.”
Recovered from Cayamora and others were P363,000 in cash, the black Toyota Grandia with plate number NES 219 they were using, identification cards, personal belongings and other pieces of evidence.
WATCH: Davao City police bomb squad recovers grenade from the Toyota Grandia used by the captured Maute clan chief. | via Edith Regalado pic.twitter.com/NnyRKplGJ8
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) June 6, 2017
They are currently detained at DCPO and will face charges for Rebellion under Arrest Order No. 1 issued by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Cayamora Maute has a standing arrest warrant for five counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, while Norhana also has a standing warrant for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 or illegal possession of blasting caps issued by Regional Trial Court 12 Branch 11 in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
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