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Suspected subleader, member of Maute group nabbed in Manila
A suspected subleader and a member of Islamic State (ISIS)-inspired Maute group were arrested in Tondo, Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Sunday. (Photo by Keith Allison/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)
A suspected subleader and a member of Islamic State (ISIS)-inspired Maute group were arrested in Tondo, Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Sunday.
The alleged Maute group subleader was identified as Nasser Lomondot aka Muhamad Lomondot, while the suspected member was Rizasalam Lomondot.
The two suspected terrorists were nabbed in an operation conducted by the NCRPO, Manila Police District (MPD), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), 103rd Brigade of the Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Intelligence Group on Saturday, March 3.
The NCRPO said that Nasser Lomondot was involved in the attack on a Civilian Active Auxiliary Detachment and was “one of the key planners” in the attack of Marantao, Lanao Del Sur during the Marawi siege last year.
“He also took part in the killings of innocent Christians, committed violence against women and children hostages,” the police said.
The authorities seized a hand grenade and a caliber .45 pistol from the duo.
The two members of Maute group were charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as well as explosives. They were brought to the MPD for documentation.
The Maute group laid a 5-month siege in Marawi City on May 23 last year. This ferocious battle between the terrorists and government forces prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in the entire Mindanao.
On October 17, the President announced that the besieged city was set free from the terrorist group, following the deaths of its top two leaders—Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby declare Marawi City liberated from the terrorists’ influence that marks the beginning of rehabilitation,” Duterte said during his visit in Marawi then.
PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa recently assured the public that the police are gearing up to handle a possible sequel of the 154 days of battle to reclaim Marawi City.
Dela Rosa’s remark came after Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim reportedly said that foreign terrorists from Syria and Iraq are eyeing Mindanao cities of Iligan and Cotabato.
The PNP Chief said that they will have to focus on recruiting first before these terrorists can even launch an attack in these areas.
