DAVAO CITY—The father of the terrorist Maute brothers, Cayamora, was transferred to Metro Manila for security reasons, said Eastern Mindanao spokesman for martial law, Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay Thursday.
Gapay said that after the inquest proceedings on Wednesday night, Cayamora and his daughter Norjannah Balawag Maute Tingao and her husband Benzar Ali, and one of Cayamora’s wives, Kongan Balawag were charged for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
“About 9:45 p.m. [Wednesday] they were transported via C130 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force going to Manila for security reason,” Gapay said.
Their driver, Aljon Ismael Salazar, was released after prosecutors Aimee Viscara Mabale and Ma. Cynthia Adao found no probable cause to hold him.
Gapay also said that they are still validating the identification of Norjannah Maute Tingao since they have information that there are two people who share the same name, albeit spelled differently.
Authorities also apprehended the former mayor of Marawi City, Fajad Umpar Salic, together with three others in a checkpoint in Misamis Oriental. Salic was arrested on a charge of rebellion.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology on Thursday confirmed that Cayamora Maute, 67, the patriarch of the Maute family, and three others are now in their custody.
“I can confirm that they are now in our custody but I cannot give further details at this time,” said BJMP spokesman Xavier Solda.
Omar and Abdullah Maute, the leaders of the Maute terrorist group, together with Isnilon Hapilon of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf Group, went on a rampage in Marawi City on May 23. They continue to hold parts of the city amid a military offensive to clear the city of terrorists.
Also on Thursday, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla denied reports that some of the weapons and ammunition being used by the Maute group in the ongoing battle in Marawi City came from military stocks.
Some of the captured guns and crates of ammunition in Marawi City showed markings indicating they came from the government arsenal in Limay, Bataan.
Padilla said it was possible the guns and ammunition were seized by the terrorists during the first hours of their attacks on jails and police stations in Marawi City.
“Police stations and jail facilities are known to have armories and these installations were among the first to be attacked by the Maute group terrorists during their initial onslaught. It is very likely that these weapons and bullets [with GA markings] could have been stolen by the terrorists,” Padilla said in Filipino. With Priam Nepomuceno, PNA