AUTHORITIES arrested Tuesday, June 6, one of the top leaders and the father of Maute brothers, who are the frontrunners of the local terror group, at the Task Force Davao checkpoint in Sirawan, Toril, Davao City, along with four other companions.
Eastern Mindanao Command (Easmincom) deputy commander Brigadier General Gilbert Gapay confirmed in a press conference at Davao City Police Office (DCPO) that around 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, personnel of the Task Force Davao apprehended Cayamora Maute, 67, the patriarch and considered the brains of the Maute Terror Group, the same group behind the Marawi City siege for two weeks now.
Accompanying the elder Maute were Norjannah Balawag Maute, the daughter, and her husband Benzarali Tinglao; Cayamora’s second wife Kongan Alfonso Balawag; and the driver Aljon Salazar Ismael.
They were arrested during the routine check. They were onboard a black Toyota Grandia van. Cayamora was reportedly concealing his identity by wearing a face mask and sporting a clean cut image, prompting the authorities to hold the family.
When they asked the man to show his face, one of the soldiers noticed his resemblance to the photo on the tarpaulin signs of wanted terrorists posted in all checkpoints in the city.
The group was brought to DCPO for further investigation to ascertain their identities. Upon cross-examination, Cayamora, who initially presented himself with a different name, admitted that he is the wanted Cayamora in terrorist gallery.
Taken from their possession were P363,000 cash, several identification cards (ID), pistol, grenade and personal belongings. The black Grandia van was also impounded.
Gapay added that Cayamora will be detained in DCPO under the virtue of arrest order number 1 issued by the secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) Delfin Lorenzana for rebellion.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao Director Manuel Gaerlan said that Cayamora and Nurjanna Maute already have outstanding warrants of arrest for kidnapping, illegal detention, and illegal possession of explosives issued by the regional trial court in Lanao del Sur.
Authorities released the driver of the van who was identified as Esmael Aljon Salazar.
Salazar said he has no knowledge that he had with him on board a terrorist group, as he was just driving a rental van from Cotabato City.
He said he was first instructed to bring the group to Tagum City, but this was changed to Davao City instead. The old man, Cayamora, was to be brought for medical treatment.
In the video post of the interview of Ismael at the SunStar Davao Facebook page,
One Ysmaila Ismael, who identified Salazar as her brother, said in a video interview posted on SunStar Davao's Facebook page that her brother is innocent.
"Kami may ari ng rent a car! Anak siya ng may ari ng rent a car! Sa tingin mo pag magba-background check ba kami ilalagay ba nila kung Maute sila or hindi? Wag pabida please," she wrote.
But Gaerlan said they would be subject for investigation because of the possibility that the driver is just making an alibi.
The Mautes are still undergoing interrogation at the DCPO.
Gaerlan commended the vigilance implemented by the personnel that led to the arrest of the terrorist group. (PNA/SunStar Philippines)