AUTHORITIES are looking into whether the man died in a shootout with the highway police has links with threat groups or criminal organizations after learning that he owns a gun shop in Marawi City and his son was reportedly a politician of Butig, Lanao del Sur, the bailiwick of the Maute group.
City police director Senior Superintendent Nelson Aganon said there are no confirmation yet from the intelligence community that the suspect Abdulrahim Adilao has ties with any terror or criminal group in Mindanao.
"Sa information na confirm natin na vice-mayor ng Butig, Lanao del Sur ang anak niya at gun store owner siya sa Marawi City and Pampanga but as to the linkages niya considering the Maute live in Butig ay subject for validation pa," Aganon said.
Adilao engaged the two members of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit (RHPU)-Northern Mindanao in a shootout along Mastersons Avenue, Upper Carmen Thursday, December 6, that left Senior Police Officer (SPO1) Sergs de Constantine Macerin killed and wounded SPO2 Lyndie Baltazar.
Adilao also died before midnight. His common-law wife Joan Gomez was arrested while another male companion escaped after the armed encounter.
Aganon said investigators are also looking into whether Adilao is protecting someone or something which forced him to risk his life.
"Nagkaroon kami ng assessment na posibleng mayroon siyang pinoprotektahan na kung mahuli siya ma-interrogate siya at magkaroon ng linkages (We are conducting an assessment regarding the possibility that he protected someone, if he would be arrested, he would be interrogated for the possible linkages). We are finding it out," Aganon said.
Authorities are not discounting also the possibilities that he is connected with a carnapping group or drug syndicate after they showed violence when flagged down by the RHPU members.
The city's top cop also said investigators have yet to receive a report that Adilao is supplying guns and ammunition to terror groups, but they are checking the firearms registered under his name.
"Anything is possible and we don't discount possibilities but as of now wala pang confirmed report (there’s no confirmed report) as to his links sa Maute," Aganon said.
Aganon said Adilao may have complied with the requirements to get a license to operate a gun store but they will also validate how the business works.
"Siguro na-comply niya ang mga requirements kaya siya nabigyan ng license to operate kasi legitimate ang business (Maybe he complied the requirements that’s why he was given license to operate because it’s a legitimate business) but as to the content ng business other than what is allowed ay subject for validation," he added.
Aganon has assured that they are doing all the paper trail to dig up further the background of Adilao.
Suspects were charged with murder and frustrated murder charges Friday, December 7.
"Tatlo lang sila lahat sa sasakyan at lahat sila kinasuhan kaya kino-convince natin si Joan na magsalita kasi siya lahat ang haharap sa kaso kasi siya yung buhay kasi napatay ang prime suspect at nakatakas yung isa (Three of them were in the vehicle and all of them were facing charges, so we convince Joan to speak up because of she’s the only one who will face the case after the prime suspect was killed while the other escaped," Aganon said.