Suspected Indon ISIS member now in CIDG custody

Upon questioning, the Indonesian admitted to being a member of the ISIS terror group that came to the Philippines and took part in various terror operations. (PNA Photo)

MANILA— The Indonesian national, believed to be one of the remaining Maute Group stragglers who was arrested in Marawi City, was formally turned over to the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Wednesday night.

Muhammad Ilham Syahputra arrived at the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City at about 10 p.m. and was immediately subjected to booking procedures, PNP deputy spokesperson, Supt. Vemily Madrid, said Thursday.

He will be charged with violation of Republic Act 134 (Rebellion), Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), Republic Act 9516 (Explosives Act), and Republic Act 9851 (International Humanitarian Law).

Syahputra will be detained at the PNP-CIDG headquarters while charges against him are being prepared.

He was arrested 7 a.m. Wednesday by operatives of the Marawi City police in Barangay Luksa Datu. Seized from his possession were a .45-caliber pistol, a fragmentation grenade, and a backpack containing a pink tablet, 10 pieces of PHP1,000 bills, 15 PHP500 bills, and two PHP100 bills.

Upon questioning, the Indonesian admitted to being a member of the ISIS terror group that came to the Philippines and took part in various terror operations.

He also told government troops the location of 20 other companions in Marawi City.

As this develops, two more Maute Group stragglers were killed during an encounter with government troops in Marawi City Wednesday night.

The incident took place at 8:40 p.m. and also resulted in the wounding of two soldiers.

One of the killed terrorists was identified as Abu Talja, said to be the right-hand man of Isnilon Hapilon, the designated emir and leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group, who was earlier killed by government troops.

This brings to 923 the total number of Maute Group members killed, as another straggler was killed earlier this week.