ADDITIONAL security forces were deployed within the vicinity of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) where Cayamora Maute, the patriarch of Maute clan, and four other alleged cohorts were detained to leave no chances of possible rescue ploy of their allied rebels.
Brigadier General Gilbert Gapay, spokesperson of martial law and deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said on Wednesday, June 7, a heightened security measure have been placed and a “maximum security” is being implemented inside and out of DCPO following the arrest of one of the leaders and the father of Omar and Abdullah Maute on Tuesday at the Sirawan, Toril checkpoint.
Although they haven’t received any information yet indicating the possible retaliation or rescue of Cayamora by the local terrorist Maute Group, he added that they are not letting their guards down and will further jack up their security to prevent it from happening.
The Davao police are also eyeing to transfer Cayamora and his other companions to other detention facility. Authorities did not disclose where it would be for security purposes.
Gapay vowed that they will remain in alert status until the security will go back to normal. In fact, Gapay said that they are asking for the recalling of other battalion, aside from the recent battalion who returned under the Eastmincom, if the security situation in Western Mindanao Command improved.
Charges
The authorities are already preparing charges against the terrorist after a caliber .45 pistol and hand grenade were found inside the black Toyota Grandia van of the suspects.
These were found after the police conducted extensive inspection and found the items being concealed inside the van Tuesday afternoon.
Gapay said that the five suspects will be facing illegal possession of firearms and explosives aside from the standing warrant of arrest of Cayamora and his daughter Nurjanna, which was issued against them for alleged kidnapping and illegal detention.
Other legal issues will depend on the result of the investigation being conducted by the police officer under DCPO.
Based on the interview of the police with the suspect, the suspects came to the city to seek medical treatment.
Gapay said that on Tuesday, the Central 911 had already conducted a check-up on Cayamora and a doctor arrived on Wednesday to further check his health condition.
Gapay said that Cayamora is a former member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), who was expelled from the group for misconduct.
He added that the Maute group is possibly a splinter of MILF but he was quick to add that they are still verifying the veracity of the information they gathered as it is still subject for investigation.
“He is not in the frontline. He is in the support services providing logistics and financial support to propel the terroristic activities of the Maute group. Malaki talaga ang participation ni Cayamora, bukod sa pagiging patriarch who provide direction and guidance to the entire clan,” he said.
Eastmincom, meanwhile, had already conducted a total of 2,361 checkpoints all over EMC’s area of responsibility. Aside from the ground, the Naval Forces has also been “proactively conducting maritime patrols to prevent the terrorist from using the sea lanes as point of entry.”
In order to further capacitate the Eastmincom in the implementation of martial law, Gapay said that the general headquarters had just sent a legal team composed of 10 military lawyers, who arrived on Wednesday to help the troops in the legal ramifications.
Gapay said that no reports yet of human rights violation have been conveyed to them and he assured the public anew that they will uphold the human rights and adhere to the rule of law.