Maute financier captured
200 militants, supporters hunted – military
Asuspected financier of the Islamic State (IS)-linked Maute Group, which lay siege to Marawi City, was captured last Thursday in Quezon City, while nearly 200 terror suspects and supporters are still being hunted, officials said on Friday.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Director Oscar Albayalde disclosed this Friday as he assured Metro Manila residents that they have nothing to worry about despite the arrest of 42-year-old Rasdy Malawani alias Rasdy Macabangkit/ Makabanke.
In a press briefing at the Que-
zon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters in Camp Karingal, Quezon City, Albayalde assured that police are very much on top of the security situation. He added that police have not monitored any potential terror threats that could disrupt the All Saints’ Day and preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next month.
“Despite this series of arrests, Metro Manila remains peaceful and we are very much ready to receive the 22 leaders in the upcoming ASEAN Summit and also the 3,000 delegates with them,” Albayalde said.
Last October 24, Aminkisa Romato Macadato, another suspected financier of the Maute Group, was arrested in a raid in Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City.
“Yes, as of this time wala tayong namo-monitor na (we have not monitored any) clear and present danger or any imminent terror attack dito sa (here in) Metro Manila. But we assume the terror threat here in Metro Manila is always high para hindi kami (for us not to be) complacent and we will be always on our toes,” Albayalde added.
Malawani’s arrest was made possible on the strength of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. He was collared at his house at Marytown Circle, Greenfields I, Barangay Kaligayahan, Novaliches, by policemen from the QCPD District Special Operations Unit (DSOU), headed by Supt. Rogarth Campo; the District Intelligence Division (DID), under Supt. Pedro Sanchez; Fairview Police Station 5, under Supt. Tomas Nuñez. The QCPD was assisted by agents of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA)-NCR/ CTIC and supported by the AFP Naval Intelligence Service Group (NISG)NCR, and Joint Task Force NCR.
Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, QCPD director, said Malawani has been under surveillance for some time to confirm information that he was fronting for Ominta Romato Maute alias Farhana of the Maute Group in managing her Salaam Bazaar at the Novaliches Plaza Mall. The business was earlier identified as a source of financing for the terrorist group. Farhana is currently detained at the Bicutan Jail in Taguig City, following her arrest in Barangay Kormatan, Masiu, Lanao del Sur, in June, 2017.
Police said intelligence information has already established that the suspect was indeed running the bazaar and collecting rents from stallholders that he allegedly remitted to someone in Marawi City, later traced to Azesha/ Azezza Macabangit/Macabangkit Maute alias Lily, the wife of Madie Maute who was among the architects of the Marawi siege.
Police also confirmed during the case build-up that the license for a .45 caliber pistol he usually carries is already expired, and that his social media account is linked to the Maute Group members.
Eleazar said after obtaining a search warrant from Branch 89 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, his men swooped down on Malawani’s house at 6:25 a.m. Thursday and arrested him.
Seized during the search were an unlicensed Colt Caliber .45 pistol with five ammunition, a rifle grenade and several bank transaction receipts. Witnessing the search were Farou kM ala wani,t he father of the suspect; barangay chairman Freddy Roxas and barangay kagawad Arnel Gabito.
Further investigation showed that Malawani’s wife, Princess M aka bang kit Ma law a ni alias Junaida or Jonairah, is the sister of Madie Maute's wife. They are mutually associated with another Maute member identified as Jerry Maute who arrived in Quezon City on November, 2016 and stayed with Malawani in Novaliches.
No terror cells
Albayalde, in the same interview, said that they have not monitored any terror cells operating in Metro Manila.
He also said that residents don't need to worry about anything, especially during All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day.
“Walang dapat ikabahala (There is no need to be worried). But of course we have to be alert and vigilant and ask the people to report any incidents out of the ordinary,” he said.
Despite this, Albayalde said Metro Manila remains in full alert.
“The PNP is still on full alert status. Actually, the threat level in Metro Manila is less moderate. Bumaba na nga yan (It has already gone down). Pero (But) there is always that possibility of retaliatory attacks of certain individuals, hindi group ang tinitignan namin (We are not looking on a group). Because of the vacuum in the leadership wala ng ano ito…” Albayalde said.
“Dito sa (Here in) Metro Manila hindi bumaba ang alert status since the Davao bombing. We maintained that kaya ang attendance namin eh 100 percent. Walang leaves since last year,” he said.
Albayalde also assured Muslims who have legitimate businesses in Metro Manila not to worry as they are not being singled out.
“Wala sila dapat ikatakot, lalo na iyung mga Maute na may negosyo (They don't need to worry, especially the Mautes who have businesses here),” he said.
200 hunted
Despite Albayalde’s assurance, Armed Forces spokesman Major Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. warned the public about the threat posed by nearly 200 terror suspects and supporters who could launch lone-wolf attacks.
“Out of the names indicated in the arrest order which is almost about 300, if I’m not mistaken, there were only about a hundred, most likely more than a hundred, who were arrested,” Padilla said during a Palace press briefing.
“So a big part of that list still remains at large. So remember, they still remain at large so they still pose a threat… Sila’y maaaring pagmulan ng mga tinatawag ng mahal na Pangulo na lone wolf attacks [They could be the source of lone wolf attacks mentioned by the President],” he added.
He said the suspects, included in the arrest orders for their involvement in the rebellion in Marawi City, might be hiding somewhere in Metro Manila, Visayas, or Mindanao. The fugitives included alleged members of the Maute terror group, Abu Sayyaf Group, and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
“So hindi natin alam kaya nga binabantayan natin at mino-monitor natin at patuloy ang imbestigasyon (We don’t know where they are, so we will continue to guard, monitor, and investigate),” he said.
As the government remains on guard against these threats, Padilla also urged the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with authorities to keep these terrorists at bay.
“We can only prevent these kinds of attacks if every citizen will do their part,” he said.
“Kailangang magkaisa tayo, kasi hindi biro ang banta ng terorismo. Maswerte tayo ngayon, wala pang nangyayari tulad ng nangyari sa Gitnang Silangan at sa Europa dito sa ating bansa (We must unite because the threat of terrorism is no joke. We are lucky that nothing has happened similar to the attacks in the Middle East and Europe in the country),” he said.
President Duterte had earlier cautioned that the Islamic State militants might resort to lone wolf attacks after being defeated in the siege in Marawi City.
Duterte, addressing an assembly of Filipino professionals at the Manila Hotel, said he feared such attacks by lone operators who could just ram a truck into a crowd or detonate explosives.
“The fighting has ended officially about a week ago but may I just remind you to be vigilant and always aware that extremism is the problem of the planet today. Retaliation and vengeance is not far-fetched,” he said during the 6th Philippine Professional Summit at the Manila Hotel Thursday night.
Rehab pledges
Meanwhile, several countries and foreign agencies have pledged rehabilitation aid for war-torn Marawi City but the government would not instantly accept them.
Any foreign assistance for the Marawi rebuilding efforts would still be studied by the Task Force Bangon Marawi before accepting such aid, according of Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy administrator Kristoffer Purisima.
Purisima noted that the task force must take into consideration President Duterte’s recent pronouncement about foreign aid before making a decision.
“We’re studying this within the framework of the task force and under the finance and resource mobilization (group),” he said during a Palace news conference. “The agreement among the agencies of the task force that any pledge or any aid that we are receive or may mga offers ng donations, idadaan lahat ‘yan sa task force [or any offer of donation will all pass through the task force],” he added.
If any country or organization approach a specific government agency about Marawi aid, he said the concerned agency must report to the task force, which will then “discuss whether to accept it.”
The task force’s finance and resource mobilization group includes the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance, and the Department of Budget and Management.