AFP: Martial law helps in arrest of rebel suspects

President Duterte’s martial law proclamation in Mindanao has helped in the military crackdown on people involved in the rebellion, the Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson said on Wednesday.

“Are there ways by which we could have done this without martial law? Yes, there are. But then the suspension of the privilege of the writ would not be there. And that would not expedite the arrest of certain [people] that have been supporting this rebellion,” Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

So far, Padilla said government forces had detained Cayamora Maute, father of the Maute brothers who led the attack on Marawi last month.

Arrested with Cayamora on Tuesday were his second wife, Kongan Alfonso-Maute, Aljon Salazar Esmael, Bensarali Tingao and his wife Norjannah, daughter of the Maute patriarch. They were apprehended at a Task Force Davao checkpoint in Sirawan, Toril.

“The apprehension of the Maute patriarch is a significant step to prevent and suppress future terrorist acts, and we thank Task Force Davao for its quick response,” said presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella.