QCPD chief: Miscommunication between AFP, PNP on Maute group's presence in NCR

A police official on Wednesday said "miscommunication" might be the reason for the conflicting claims of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the presence of the Lanao-based Maute group in Metro Manila.

"Actually lahat ng operations being conducted by the Philippine National Police with regard to this terrorist group are coordinated with our counterparts with the AFP. And in fact, this particular operation is a joint operation between the AFP and PNP," Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"There might be some miscommunication but a verification is being conducted, so vine-verify din ng PNP ngayon regarding this particular issue on about the Maute group," he added.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday said that Maute group has already established its presence in Metro Manila following the arrest of its suspected member, Nasip Ibrahim, in Quezon City.

Ibrahim was arrested in Salem Compound in Barangay Culiat Monday evening. Police authorities seized two .45 pistols, a submachine gun, an improvised explosive device (IED) with a 60-mm mortar, and seven sachets of suspected shabu from the suspect's house.

Dela Rosa also said that Ibrahim was part of the group that tried to bomb Rizal Park in November 2016. The plan failed and the group decided to plant an IED near the United States Embassy in Manila.

AFP, meanwhile, said that it has yet to receive information on the presence of Maute group in Metro Manila, but also urged the public to remain vigilant and calm amid Dela Rosa's report.

Guillermo said that while Ibrahim did not admit his involvement in the group, they have already received reports that he coordinated the Maute members' "accomodation" in Metro Manila.

"Si Nasip Ibrahim siya ngayon ang nag-facilitate ng accomodation nung grupong galing sa Mindanao days before doon sa foiled bomb attempt dito sa US Embassy," Guillermo said.

"Siya yung driver nung blue Revo na nagdala ng mga improvised explosive device dito sa Metro Manila," he added.

Guillermo said that Muslim leaders are in constant coordination with  police authorities in terms of reporting on the presence of Maute group in Manila.

"Tsinie-check nila ang kanilang mga hanay. In fact, kaya rin natin ito napasok dahil sa kooperasyon na kanilang ipinakikita, not just by the barangay officials, mismong mga Muslim tribal leaders ang nakipag-coordinate sa atin," he said.

"Very cooperative naman ang ating mga Muslim tribal leader sa pagbibigay ng information sa atin," he added.

Guillermo also urged the public to remain vigilant amid reports on existence of Maute group in Manila.

"Ang ating panawagan sa ating mga kababayan ay manatiling vigilant sa ating ginagawa. We shouldn't be affected with these concerns. Yung tuloy-tuloy natin ang ating way of life at wag tayong mangamba dahil nandito ang mga awtoridad para patuloy na panatilihin ang ating pagiging maayos ng ating kapaligiran," he said. —Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/ALG, GMA News