Eleven suspected members of the Lanao del Sur-based Maute terror group were arrested by the military Monday morning, an official said. The raiding team, composed of personnel from the 6th Infantry Battalion (IB), also confiscated eight unlicensed high-powered firearms during the 5:15 a.m. raid on three houses in the village of Maragondong, Marogong town in Lanao del Sur, said Major General Arnel dela Vega, commander of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division
Dela Vega said the military received a tip from local residents about the presence of “new faces” in their communities who were “armed to the teeth.”
After receiving the information and verified through a week-long surveillance, a law enforcement operation was carried out.
Dela Vega said the guns recovered from the arrested suspects include a homemade sniper Barret rifle, 60 mm mortar launcher, a cal. M-60 machine gun, M-14 rifle, M-16 rifle, M1 Garand rifle, carbine and ammunition.
Dela Vega said the operation “was bloodless because the suspects were caught by surprise and failed to react.”
The names of the arrested suspects were not available as of posting time, as follow-up operations are still ongoing.
Dela Vega said the suspects are now undergoing interrogation at the 6th IB’s main camp in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
Also seized from the suspects were flags used by the Maute Group — which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria — mobile phones and military fatigue uniforms. The Maute Group is also allied with the Abu Sayyaf Group.