By Edith Regalado and John Unson
MANILA, Philippines — Security forces yesterday arrested the head of the Maute clan after government troops discovered P52 million in cash stashed in his house in Marawi City.
Cayamora Maute, father of the Maute brothers fighting government forces in Marawi City, was apprehended in a Toyota Grandia van that was stopped by Task Force Davao at a checkpoint.
The elder Maute was in a vehicle driven by Aljon Salazar Ismael, along with his daughter Norjannah Balawag, son-in-law Benzarali Tingao and Kongan Alfonso Balawag, believed to be his wife, when it was stopped in Barangay Sirawan, Davao City.
Task Force Davao commander Col. Erwin Bernard Neri said no one had tipped off the military about the trip and the arrest of the elder Maute was incidental.
Lt. Col. Nestor Mondia, Task Force Davao checkpoint commander, said they stopped the van when they noticed one of the passengers was wearing a surgical mask and bore a resemblance to Cayamora.
“Our men were wondering why Cayamora refused to drop the blanket he used to cover himself. No matter what and how our men asked him to do it, he still refused to get the blanket off. That was why our men asked the group for identification cards and they presented different IDs. They had so many IDs,” Neri added.
Neri said a pistol and a grenade were seized from those in the van.
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