Captured patriarch Cayamora Maute and three members of his family have been transferred Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City for security reasons.
Eastern Mindanao Command Martial Law Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay revealed that after inquest proceedings on Wednesday night, Cayamora Maute, together with his wife Kongan Alfonso Balawag, daughter Norjannah Balawag Maute and her husband Benzarali Tinglao were immediately escorted to a C-140 military plane and were flown to Manila on 9:45 PM.
After inquest proceedings conducted by Pros. Imee Bisera-Mabale and Pros. Maria Cynthia Adao-Prat, the four were charged with illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosive after the police recovered a caliber 45 pistol with ammunition and a hand grenade inside the black Toyota Grandia Van which they rode in their bid to enter Davao City.
Meanwhile, driver of the rented van Aljon Salazar Ismael, was released to his legal counsel Atty. Delfin Suarez on the same night for lack of probable cause of detention.
“There were no reasonable grounds and no probable cause for him to be charged for the illegal possession of firearms and explosives. He maintains his statement that he was just a driver and that the van was only rented. And he didn’t know and had no connections whatsoever with the Maute family,” said Gapay on Thursday.
The police were also awaiting orders as to the possible transfer of other Maute detainees in Davao City.
On Tuesday morning, the Mautes were intercepted by police and armed forces in Sirawan, Toril checkpoint.
Cayamora is the father of wanted Maute terrorists Abdullah and Omar Maute, the perpetrators of the Marawi attack, which prompted President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to declare Martial Law in the whole Mindanao on May 23.
Cayamora Maute also has a standing warrant of arrest along with his son Abdullah Romato Maute and 88 others for five counts of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and multiple murder. His wife Norjannah, was also charged for violation of presidential decree 1866 or illegal possession of blasting tabs and incendiary devices issued by the Regional Trial Court of 12th Division region, Branch 11 at Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
