Maute‘recruiter’ says she was tricked into sending messages

MANILA — Suspected terrorist recruiter Karen Hamidon claims that she was only duped into committing the crimes she is being accused of.

Hamidon yesterday executed her counter-affidavit on the rebellion raps in relation to cybercrime law filed against her by the National Bureau of Investigation-Counter Terrorism Division.

The 36-year old Hamidon denied she intended to recruit fighters to join the Maute terror group, which has claimed allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

She said she was "cajoled and seduced" by a certain J A to post the messages in a chatroom inviting people to join the fighting in Mindanao.

She said that she met a certain "J A" on Facebook in September.

They later joined a group called "Salungat ng Taghut" on messaging application Telegram.

"J A managed to gain my trust and had become my confidant and persuaded me to do things which is against my will," Hamidon said.

She said that J A told her he would send her "wifi" and SIM cards by courier, but the courier turned out to be an arresting team.