PNP stands by claim of Maute’s presence

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday stood by its claim that the Maute group, a local terrorist group with links to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is in Metro Manila.

“There is continuous coordination between the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP pertaining to the monitoring of the terror group or any armed group,” said PNP spokesperson Dionardo Carlos.

“Hindi naman tayo kumontra. They are saying (that) based (on their) monitoring, wala (Maute is not here). Itong sa atin (PNP) is the result of investigation and it appears someone is providing a safe haven for (Maute),” he said.

Following the arrest of Nasip Ibrahim by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) operatives on Monday evening, PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa revealed that that Maute group is establishing a foothold in Metro Manila.

Ibrahim, a suspected member of the Maute group, was allegedly the one who drove the vehicle from Mindanao that carried the materials used in the manufacture of an improvised explosive device (IED). The IED was used in the foiled bombing attack near the US Embassy in November.

Police said Ibrahim also facilitated the accommodation of other members of the terror group in Quezon City while they were planning the attack.

The AFP, for its part, denied the alleged presence of the Maute group in the capital, hours after Dela Rosa made the statement.

However, in a press conference on Wednesday, AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief Edgard Arevalo said the AFP is not discounting the possibility that the Maute group is extending its reach to Metro Manila.

He said they were still verifying the information provided by the PNP. “We cannot discount the possibility that the Maute group may do diversionary tactics to ease up operations against them,” said Arevalo.