Indonesian linked to Maute group nabbed in Marawi

An Indonesian national who was allegedly with the pro-ISIS Maute group has been arrested in Marawi City, a television report said Wednesday.

The suspect was identified as Muhammad Ilham Syahputra, 22, from Medam, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

GMA News TV’s Balitanghali reported that the Indonesian, who can speak Filipino, first introduced himself as a resident of Cagayan de Oro and part of the military intelligence.

The report said the suspect was with the Maute during its training in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur, where the terror group recruited child warriors and other fighters.

It further said the suspect claimed that he was able to escape after he killed his two colleagues.

Armed Forces spokesperson Major General Restituto Padilla said based on initial information, the suspect was trying to escape when he was intercepted and arrested by members of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), who then turned him over to the police and military.

Marawi City had been under siege by the Maute group for five months until it was liberated by the government earlier this month. 

Invited by Hapilon

In a press conference, Senior Superintendent John Guyguyon, Lanao del Sur provincial police director, said Syahputra told them that he arrived in the Philippines in November 2016 upon the invitation of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was killed in the government operations in Marawi City.

“He said he was invited by Isnilon Hapilon na maging part ng struggle dito and sabi niya kasama siya sa Piagapo encounter with our Armed Forces and he added may involvement sila sa Thamrin bombing in Indonesia,” he said.

He said the suspect told them that Hapilon and Omar Maute, one of the leaders of the Maute group who was also killed in Marawi City, were initially planning to bomb military camps.

“According to him there were plans of bombing in the Philippines pero naputol dahil sa nangyari sa Marawi. Prior to his arrival ‘yun ang balak ni Isnilon, [bomb] military camps because of what is happening especially in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi tawi,” he said

Asked how many Maute members and hostages were still in the main battle area, Guyguyon said Syahputra was very careful in answering the question, saying Maute members were monitoring the movements of other members to stop those planning to surrender.

Barangay officials, however, said the foreigner told them there were at least 39 Maute stragglers in Marawi City.

“Nagbabantayan na sila. Sabi niya meron pa talaga sa loob and he cannot give exact number pero sabi niya meron pa ring natitira doon,” Guyguyon said.

“Hindi siya makapagbigay ng categorical answer kung bihag o kasama dahil natatakot. Everybody is now fighting for his own life, yung iba gustong sumurender kaya lang nagbabantayan na sila. Sabi niya ayaw nila na may sumuko, papatayin daw, ‘yun ang banggit niya,” he added.

Guyguyon said according to Syhaputra, the Maute stragglers will not stage an attack but they will retaliate if the government troops will enter their camp. He said Syahputra told them that the resources of Maute stragglers were diminishing.

Syahputra also supposedly told the police that Malaysian lecturer turned Maute financier Dr. Mahmud Ahmad has been killed by the troops.

“Sabi niya matagal nang patay. Tinanong namin sabi niya he did know him, sabi niya nakikita niya but we have to get other corroborative evidence before we believe him,” Guyguyon said.

Recovered from Syahputra were a firearm, fragmentation grenade, money of different currency , pieces of jewelry,  cellphone. and a passport but not that of the suspect.

Guyguyon said they will submit the suspect’s cellphone to forensic testing.

He said they did not find Syaputra’s passport which the latter claimed was taken by the Maute.

In April, the military recovered an Indonesian passport belonging to “Muhammad Ilham Syahputra” after an air and land offensive at the camp of Maute group in Piagapo.

Guyguyon said they will coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration and other agencies to check if Syahputra indeed have a passport when he entered the country.

“Ang banggit lang niya one time siyang dumating, ang problem we are not able to find his passport, sabi niya kinuha ng Maute. We will verify with BI and NAIA kung dumaan nga siya sa airport,” he said.

He said they are now preparing the  charges they will file against the Indonesian.

“Sa ngayon we are preparing the investigation report para ma-file an ng case against him for rebellion and terrorism,” he said.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao assemblyman and provincial crisis management committee spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said Syahputra's arrest validates the local government unit’s position that civilian participation is essential in the collective effort to secure communities from terrorist elements.

“Crucial in our security effort to fully restore normalcy in the controlled area is to maintain vigilance by our residents,” he said in a press statement.

He said they must develop and strengthen the civilian security plan as proposed by the Provincial Peace and Order Council of Lanao del Sur to inspire further people’s initiatives in order to complement the state forces’ on-going clearing operation down to the barangay level. —KBK/BM, GMA News