The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Security tightened in Cagayan de Oro City
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Police and military authorities heightened security in the bustling city of Cagayan de Oro following the recent capture of 3 alleged supporters of the local ISIS group following a raid in an apartment here.
Army Brigadier General Gilbert Gapay, of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said security forces continue to track down suspected terrorists not only in Cagayan de Oro, but also in the entire region. “This effort is part of the continuous tracking and monitoring being implemented by Eastern Mindanao Command units against the personalities listed in the arrest order, to prevent terroristic activities to be carried out in Eastern Mindanao,” he said.
Last week, security forces arrested Irene Romato Idris, Monaliza Solaiman Romato and Tahera Romato Taher in their apartment in the village of Macasandig where soldiers and policemen seized 4 M203 grenades and ammonium nitrate which is commonly used by rebels in the manufacture of improvised explosives from the apartment rented by
Gapay said Romato, alias Monay, is now the matriarch of the Maute clan following the capture of her aunt, Farhana Romato Maute, the mother of brothers Maddie, Omar and Abdullah Maute – local ISIS commanders who are currently fighting security forces in the besieged city of Marawi.
“She is providing financial and logistical support to the Maute terrorist group and her house in Cagayan De Oro served as a sanctuary and transit point for Maute terrorist members,” he said, adding, the arrest prevented the Maute group which is a member of the local ISIS of staging diversionary attacks in Northern Mindanao and will adversely affect its logistics support network.
He said Romato, whose son Colingling is also a member of the lo- cal ISIS group and serves as liaison for the jihadist group in Cagayan de Oro. She also provided sanctuary to jihadists Farida Romato, Al Majid Romato and Al Jadid Romato during their stay here and prior to their capture in Iloilo province on June 18.
Gapay said Romato has links with jihadist Mohammad Noaim Maute, alias Abu Jadid, who is a trained bomber and being hunted down by the authorities. He said security forces were also tracking down other terrorists in the South.