NO LINK to the local terror group Maute, after all. This was the conclusion reached by authorities on the seven people, all with the family name Maute, who were barred Monday from leaving the country through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Three of them were released earlier upon confirmation of having no “deragotary record,” while the last four who were held, a father and his three sons, were released Tuesday, according to the police chief.

The father, Yasser Maute, and two of his sons — Ashary and Alnizar Maute — were released by the police after finding no evidence that they are linked to the IS-inspired Maute group that launched a rampage in Marawi City on May 23 and continue to hold ground in some parts where they are engaged in battle with government forces.

The other son, 17-year-old Abdul Rahman, was detained separately by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), but was also released after it was established that the person included in an arrest order list is just his namesake.

“They did not find reasonable ground to hold them further. It was not proven that those Maute are involved with those Maute who staged a rebellion in Marawi,” Police Chief General Ronald M. dela Rosa told reporters in an ambush interview yesterday.

However, the chief clarified that they can still be arrested in the future if they find sufficient evidence to support earlier suspicions.

“If an additional information will come up linking them, then they will not be cleared. As of now, as of yet, they are cleared, that is why we released them,” he said.

Mr. Dela Rosa added that as far as the police is concerned, the four can now leave the country as they have earlier planned. However, the Bureau of Immigration still has the final say.

“Since they are now released by the PNP (Philippine National Police), as of now, we don’t have any evidence against them, they can go. But it’s now the call of the Bureau of Immigration. That’s their turf already, departure from the country.”

Before being released, Yasser and his kin reportedly cried foul over the continued discrimination they have been receiving for bearing the family name Maute since the Marawi siege.

CNN Philippines reported that Atty. Elias Yusoph, the arrested Mautes’ lawyer, has advised innocent civilians with the Maute surname to submit an affidavit to the NBI to clear them of any affiliation with the Maute terror group. — Jil Danielle M. Caro

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