Two alleged ‘Mautes’ face rebellion charges

Apprehended earlier by MLSAG for illegal possession of explosive devices

THE Martial Law Special Action Group (MLSAG) has filed rebellion charges against the two alleged members of the ISIS-Maute group who were arrested in a raid in brgy. Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City last July 5, including the supposed Maute financier who remained at-large.

Formally charged in court were Monaliza Solaiman Romato, Tahera Romato Taher and Irene Romato Idris who earlier faced illegal possession of explosives.

Romato and Taher were arrested along with Gazmin Manawazi Abdullah, though the latter had been released after authorities failed to establish his connections with the terrorists.

Idris was not home when the raiding team implemented the search warrant that also resulted to the confiscation of several explosives inside the rented apartment.

Superintendent Melgar Devaras, deputy chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Northern Mindanao (CIDG-10), said Taher and Romato were airlifted to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig city for their detention.

Devaras said the two were found to have involvements and connections with the terrorists based on the accounts of the military witnesses.

“May affidavit na nang testigo from the military na makapagtuturo sa kanilang connections sa Maute group,”Devaras said.

Since the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, the MLSAG had already arrested two personalities included in the arrest orders issued by the Department of National Defense (DND).

The MLSAG also caught three local terrorists and two drug personalities; implemented three search warrants and apprehended 30 suspicious personalities for questioning.

About 14 cases were also filed against some of the personalities who have either possessed contraband or those listed in the arrest orders.