ONE OF the four suspected members of the local terror group Maute who were stopped from leaving the country on Monday has been confirmed to be in the list of persons with an arrest order, military spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Restituto F. Padilla, Jr. said yesterday.

The three others are still being held at a police facility for further questioning, he added.

The four are among the seven who were stopped by authorities on Monday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as they were about to leave for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They were earlier identified as Mawiyag Ibrahim Cota, Acmali A. Mawiyag, Abdulcahar Racman Maute, Alnizar Palawan Maute, Abdulrahman Maute, Yasser Dumaraya Maute, Ashary Palawan Maute.

Three of the intercepted passengers — Messrs. Cota, Mawiyag and Abdulcahar Racman Maute — were later released after authorities confirmed that “there is no derogatory record against their name.”

“One is positive of arrest order no. 2, as far as I know. That is why a case will be immediately filed to the court. That is what I know. The other [three] are subject to further questioning,” Mr. Padilla said.

Arrest order no. 2 was issued by the Department of National Defense last May 29, covering 125 individuals allegedly involved in the Marawi siege.

However, Mr. Padilla said he has no knowledge of the exact participation of the nabbed suspect to the rebellion.

“Being part of a rebellion does not only constitute being an armed part of the rebellion in the thick of the fighting. It also includes those who are supporting the rebellion in terms of finances and other means,” Mr. Padilla said.

“They might be part of that network who is providing support, say logistics or monetary in nature. Anyone who helps in the rebellion, in any manner, is guilty [in] the name of rebellion,” he added.

The military official also commended the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for it has “once again exhibited its alertness and performance of duty,” when it barred the four suspects from leaving the country.

“We thank them for this effort and for that accomplishment. Hopefully there will be more that will be discovered trying to get out or trying to come in that will be brought to the bars of justice,” Mr. Padilla said.

Mr. Padilla also reported that as of yesterday, 90 soldiers have been killed in the still ongoing fight in Marawi City with the Maute group, which has a casualty count of 381. At least 39 civilians have also died. — Jil Danielle M. Caro

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