7 suspected Maute members stopped at NAIA

SEVEN SUSPECTED members of the Islamic State-backed Maute terrorist group were barred from their flight to Kuala Lumpur by immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday, July 10.

Citing reports from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Justice Undersecretary Erickson H. Balmes said in a text message that the seven suspected Maute members were investigated by the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) at the NAIA Terminal 3.

The seven were identified as Mawiyag Ibrahim Cota, Acmali A. Mawiyag, Abdulcahar Racman Maute, Alnizar Palawan Maute, Abdulrahman Maute, Yasser Dumaraya Maute, Ashary Palawan Maute.

They were supposed to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, via Cebu Pacific when they were stopped by immigration officers from boarding.

But Mr. Balmes in a later text message said three of the intercepted passengers were released “after determining that there is no derogatory record against their name.” They were Messrs. Cota, Mawiyag and Abdulcahar Racman Maute.

Meanwhile, the other four will be turned over to the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation “for further investigation and verification on their identity,” Mr. Balmes added.

Following President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s declaration of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus over the island of Mindanao, government authorities have arrested suspected members of the terrorist group, including Cayamora and Ominta Maute, the parents of the Maute brothers said to be leading the siege in Marawi City.

Of the siblings, Mohammad Noaim Maute was nabbed at a checkpoint in Cagayan de Oro city last June. Omarkhayam Maute has been reportedly killed in the course of the clashes, but this has not been confirmed. His brother Abdullah is believed to be still leading the siege.

Ominta Maute’s alleged replacement as logistical supporter of the Maute group, her niece Monaliza “Monay” Romato, was also arrested early this month.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the government has three days, from arrest, to file appropriate charges against the detained before a local court.