COTABATO CITY -- Police authorities arrested here Tuesday afternoon a female relative of slain Maute Group founders Omar and Abdullah Maute who was in the Arrest Order No 2 issued on June 5, 2017 by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in the aftermath of the Marawi siege last year.
Sr. Supt. James Allan Logan, regional director for PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-ARMM), said joint police operatives from Cotabato City and CIDG-Maguindanao, served the warrant for Najiya Karon-Maute, 37, a resident of Purok Nayon, Shariff Kabunsuan, Barangay Rosary Heights 3 here.
Chief Inspector Allan Uy, CIDG-ARMM spokesperson, said the suspect is allegedly the widow of slain Maute-ISIS commander Mohammad Khayam Maute. The suspect did not resist arrest when lawmen raided her home at 2:30 p.m., the CIDG said.
“Karon-Maute is still undergoing tactical interrogation about her role in the terror group,” Uy said.
The suspect’s lawyers and family members have visited her at the CIDG-ARMM detention facility at Pedro Colina Hill in this city. They refused to answer reporters’ queries. Engr. Karon-Maute also opted not to speak to newsmen here. (PNA)
