Government officials see the arrest of the father of the Maute brothers, who are leading the rebellion in Marawi City, as a step to ending terrorism in Mindanao.
““The apprehension of the Maute patriarch is a significant step to prevent and suppress future terrorist acts, and we thank Task Force Davao for its quick response,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement Wednesday.
Cayamora Maute, the father of the Maute brothers Omar and Abdullah, was arrested Tuesday at a military checkpoint in Barangay Sirawan, Toril District, Davao City.
The combined Task Force Davao and police under the Joint Task Force Haribon intercepted the black Toyota Grandia carrying Cayamora Maute, his second wife Kongan Alfonso-Maute, daughter Norjanna Balawag-Maute, and son-in-law Bensarali Tingao. The van driver Aljon Salazar Esmael, was released by authorities.
Cayamora was initially not recognized as he has no beard and was covering his body and face with malong. When Cayamora was asked to remove the cover of his face, the soldier suspected him to be one of the persons in the gallery of the Maute terrorists.
Posters of the Maute terrorists are posted in all checkpoints, police and army vehicles since the declaration of Martial Law.
Authorities also confiscated P363,000 cash, the van, several ID cards, personal belongings and other pieces of evidence.” Further inspection of the van further resulted to the confiscation of two firearms and a hand grenade.
“This is an important development in our collective fight to reclaim peace and defeat lawlessness and terrorism, and all that threatens our freedom and future,” Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a press statement released on Tuesday night following the arrest.
The city mayor commended Lt. Col. Nestor Mondia and his team for the arrest of Camayora Maute.
Cayamora Maute has been tagged by authorities as the provider of funding and logistical support for the activities of his Marawi-based sons. Authorities believed that his arrest dealt a big blow to local extremists operating in several areas in Mindanao and would weaken the morale of the Maute brothers still fighting in Marawi City. (PNA)
photo credit: Davao Today
