Mohammad Noaim Maute. PHOTO from PNP
The arrest of a Maute bomb maker in Cagayan de Oro was a “positive development” in the fight against terrorism, Malacañang said on Friday.
READ: Cops arrest Maute group bomb maker
Mohammad Noaim Maute, alias Abu Jadid, was arrested at Barangay (village) Macasandig at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.
A police report said Abu Jadid used a fake ID of Mindanao State University bearing the name of Alfaiz Mamintal to get through checkpoints.
Abu Jadid is said to be a relative of the Maute brothers, who are leading the ongoing siege in Marawi City.
“This, we consider a positive development in our campaign to end rebellion in Marawi to flush out evil forces and to bring peace to the island of Mindanao,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a Palace briefing.
As of 6 p.m. on June 15, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Director Omar Romero said 225 enemies had been killed while 59 armed forces and policemen had died in the ongoing conflict.
In a Palace briefing, Brig. Gen. Resituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said the capability of the Maute terrorists had been “significantly degraded.”
“Their capabilities have been significantly degraded, and they have specifically targeted Marawi to sow terror, wreak havoc, possibly kidnap people, destroy homes, schools, what have you. And that’s what exactly they did,” Padilla said. JPV/rga