(Eagle News) — The alleged operator of Farhana Maute’s businesses that were also supposed sources of funds for terrorist activities in Marawi was arrested in Quezon City on Thursday.
Chief Supt. Guillermo Salazar, Quezon City Police District director, said Rasdy Malawali, also a Maute group member, was apprehended by authorities from his house in Novaliches.
According to Salazar, Malawali operates the Maute matriarch’s businesses in Salam Bazaar in Nova Mall and collects money from the other vendors there, for use in terrorist activities in Marawi.
He said this was based on information gathered through their “monitoring that has been ongoing for quite sometime, even before the Marawi siege” in May.
“We have reasons to believe na may basis na itong nakokolekta nila ay nagagamit sa kanilang campaign kaya tuloy tuloy ang investigation through paper trail,” Eleazar said.
According to National Capital Region Police Office director Oscar Albayalde, they would conduct a profiling of the vendors in Salam Bazaar to ensure that no one was a supporter of the terrorist group.
Eleazar said police would also coordinate with the mall management, so all payments for the rent of stalls would go straight to them, and will not pass through suspected supporters of the Maute group.
As for Malawali, Albayalde said charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives have already been filed against him, as he was in possession of a gun when arrested.
He said rebellion charges would follow, with Eleazar noting that a case buildup and a financial investigation were still ongoing.
“With his arrest, nacripple natin ang business sa Salam Bazaar na pinanggagalingan ng pondo na ang ating info ay nagagamit sa kanilang campaign,” Eleazar added.
