After raid, ARMM gov seeks transfer of high-risk inmates

BEFORE JAILBREAK Government soldiers guard members of the Maute extremist group on a military truck bound for the Lanao del Sur provincial jail in Marawi City. They were arrested at a military checkpoint on Aug. 22, but they were freed by their comrades in a daring jailbreak on Saturday. AFP

GOV. MUJIV Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) urged the national government to transfer high-risk inmates like terrorists and drug lords in the region to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Hataman made the appeal after heavily armed men belonging to the Maute group, which has reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, sprang on Sunday eight members from the provincial jail of Lanao del Sur in Marawi City.

Fifteen other detainees also escaped during the raid.

Hataman said local government units “can only do so much” with the powers at their disposal.

“Given the high-risk nature of detainees suspected to be members of lawless groups in the region, we would like to request from hereon that detainees of this nature be transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City immediately after their apprehension,” he said.

The Maute group is being blamed for many atrocities in Lanao del Sur province, including the beheading of two sawmill workers in Butig town in April.

Led by Maute family members, the group is also suspected of staging the July 27 attack on the headquarters of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade in Marawi City.

Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz, chief of Western Mindanao Command, said he could still not believe that the Maute group had managed to storm a jail facility.

Hataman said he wanted to know if there were enough personnel in the prison facility when the raid happened.

“Support from the national government is needed not only in the pursuit of those who sow terror in our land but also in securing them and bringing them to justice, making sure our people live in a society that is safe and secure,” he added.

The ARMM governor said he wanted an explanation on the raid. “I am calling for a Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting within this week. I don’t want finger-pointing, I need to know first,” he told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

“In this RPOC meeting, we hope to come up with resolutions that all high-risk inmates with backgrounds such as terrorists, drug lords or [those] involved in narcopolitics, be transferred to [Camp Bagong Diwa in] Bicutan, or if not, deploy a strong contingent enough to resist armed elements,” he said.

Commander Robot et al.

It was in Camp Bagong Diwa where Abu Sayyaf leaders Ghalib Andang (alias Commander Robot), Alhamser Limbong (aka Commander Kosovo) and Nadjmi Sabdullah (alias Commander Global) were detained while on trial for the kidnapping of a group of Western tourists on the Malaysian island resort of Sipadan in 2000.

The Abu Sayyaf commanders and 19 other Moro rebels died after they attempted a jailbreak in 2005.

Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra said “high-profile inmates should be brought to the regional detention cell in Parang, Maguindanao province, not in the provincial jail to prevent the same occurrence of jailbreak.”

The provincial jail, which is under the jurisdiction of the provincial government, “must also have enough manpower and firepower capability to secure the facility from intruders,” Gandamra said.

On Monday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines alerted all military posts in Mindanao to help recapture the 23 inmates, including eight members of the Maute group.

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said the military would work closely with the police, the lead force in charge of the pursuit operation.

“Security forces have been alerted to watch out and expedite the recapture of these local terrorists who have fled jail,” he said in an interview.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Soraya Alonto Adiong said her administration would “exert all efforts” to recapture the 23 inmates.

Return to Butig

Police said the eight terrorist suspects had returned to their camp in Butig town.

“There were reports that the Maute group had already joined the bigger group based in Butig after its men crossed Lake Lanao in a motorized boat,” Senior Supt. Agustine Tello, the provincial police chief, said on Monday.

Adiong, in a statement, said all efforts would be exerted “to ensure that the escaped convicts return to jail and the perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.”

Tello confirmed to the Inquirer that he received such directive from the governor.

Col. Roseller Murillo, chief of the Army’s 103rd Brigade, said his men were ready to assist the police in hunting down members of the Maute group.

Checkpoint

Army soldiers arrested the eight suspects, who were allegedly transporting bomb-making components, at a checkpoint on Aug. 22.

The suspects included Hassim Balawag Maute, alias Apple Jehad, Abul Jabbar Tominaman Macabading, Jamil Batoa Amerul and Muhammad Sinodin Mulok.

“We have done our part,” Murillo said, adding that the suspects were already under the jurisdiction of the police.

President Duterte ordered the military to “neutralize” the Maute group during his recent visit to the headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division in Pulacan, Zamboanga del Sur province. With a report from Cynthia D. Balana