(Eagle News) — Four persons with Maute surnames, who were among the seven persons held up at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday, have been brought to Camp Crame for further investigation.
Seven persons, including five persons with Maute surnames, were initially stopped at the NAIA on Monday afternoon for questioning on suspicion that they had links with the Islamist-State inspired Maute Group.
They were identified as Mawiyag Cota, Acmali Mawiyag, Abdulcahar Maute, Al Nizar Maute, Abdulrahman Maute, Yasser Maute, and Ashary Maute.
Bound for Malaysia
The Bureau of Immigration said that they were supposed to board the flight 5J 499 of the Cebu Pacific bound for Malaysia.
Three of the passengers –Mawiyag Cota, Acmali Mawiyag and Abdulcahar Maute — were released after the probe at the airport showed that they did not have any bad derogatory record.
They were interviewed by the Intelligense Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).
But the remaining four — all with Maute surnames — were brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame for further investigation.
Three of the Mautes allegedly on terror watchlist
Three of the four persons now being investigated are on the transnational crime watchlist of people connected to terror activities and terror groups. The other person is a 17-year old who allegedly has an arrest warrant for a drug-related crime.
Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo, said that airports had been provided with names of those in the watch list, as well as photos of “persons of interest” and that there is coordination with NAIA.
“Base sa binibigay na list, kapag may nakikita at may nagma-match, it is part of their mandate or hold that person for further interview,” he said.
