Raps filed vs kin of slain Maute ‘bomb-maker’ in GenSan

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 18): Raps filed vs kin of slain Maute ‘bomb-maker’ in GenSan

Police have filed obstruction of justice and coddling of fugitive charges against six family members of an alleged “bomb-maker” of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group who was killed in an operation here last Monday.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Region 12 police director, said they filed the charges on Tuesday before the city prosecutor’s office against the six suspects, who were arrested following the dawn raid at their house in Zone 3, Block 4 in Barangay Fatima.

The main target Najib Calimba Pundug alias Najib Hussein, who was tagged as the number two man of the Maute under its new leader Owaidah Abdulmajib Marohombsar alias Abu Dar, was killed in an encounter with joint operatives.

Charged were Najib’s mother Saramina Calimba Pundug, his wife Famida Macasindel and siblings Nafah Macaraya, Naica Amina Calimba Pundug, Sittie Nashibah Calimba Pundug and Mohammad Naif Calimba Pundug.

“We’re still looking into other possible charges that may be filed against them,” Morales told reporters Wednesday.

He said the additional cases could be determined through the digital forensic examination on several laptops and cellphones that were recovered from the suspects during the operation.

The official said experts will also examine the six cellphones, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer seized from Nafisah Pundug, another sister of Najib and wife of Abu Dar.

Nafisah was nabbed in a follow-up operation Monday morning in Purok Maunlad, Barangay Apopong.

“She was directly involved with the (Maute) group and actually left Lanao del Sur to escape from a number of charges filed against her,” the police official said, without further elaborating.

Morales said security and intelligence operations are ongoing in other parts of Region 12 to determine the presence of other members of the Maute group, which had pledged support to the international terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

After the five-month siege of Marawi City last year, he said the group’s members were monitored to have splintered and moved to various parts of Mindanao as a strategy to avoid tracking by authorities.

Morales urged residents to be vigilant and immediately report the presence of suspicious persons entering their communities.

“That strategy has been very effective. In fact, Najib was neutralized after only three days in GenSan because of the cooperation of the community,” he said.

Col. Adonis Bajao, commanding officer of the Army-led Joint Task Force GenSan, said they are also monitoring possible new recruits in the area of the slain Maute “bomb-maker.”

Najib, who was previously based in Lanao del Sur, was staying with his family in Barangay Fatima when he was killed.

He said the slain suspect reportedly moved to the city to “reconsolidate and recruit” new members.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1041825