Cops link ‘Cafgu’, 2 others to terrorism

By LITO RULONA
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents
 
POLICE linked an alleged military-trained member of the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) and two other men arrested here on Sunday to the Maute terrorist group in central Mindanao.

Police identified the suspects as alleged militiaman Oding Magompara Alamada, Bittyara Sainodin Solaiman, and Sidic Oraco Casubidan. All are from Marawi City.

Police claimed to have seized from the suspects two grenades, connector pins and electrical wires, cellphones, laptop, batteries, a caliber .45 pistol, suspected shabu and drug parapernalia and Alamada’s alleged Cafgu identification cards.

One of the alleged Cafgu IDs, bearing number 16041162, had the name of Alamada. It was allegedly signed by one Col. Luis Vincent Tacderas.

The ID had the markings “12 LS 5IB 11th Infantry Division” and is supposedly valid until 2018.

Alameda said a certain Maj. Rago gave the ID to him at Camp  Ranao in Marawi City two months ago.

His older ID, bearing LS-G10-0001270PA, had the name of one Col. Edilberto Soratos.

Alameda’s claim that he is a Cafgu member raised serious concerns that a suspected terrorist may have received training from the military itself.

The three suspects strongly denied links to a terrorist group even as they accused the police of planting pieces of evidence against them. They denied that the grenades, gun and illegal drugs were not theirs.

Mulat said the police had been on the lookout for suspected terrorists using a white Tamaraw FX over the weekend because of intelligence information they gathered.

Initial investigation show that the three suspects checked in at Room 314 of Country Village Hotel on Saturday.

Police said room attendants subsequently found a grenade and several drug paraphernalia apparently left behind by the suspects after they checked out.

The hotel reported the discovery to Police Station 4, and provided the information that they were using a white Tamaraw FX with license plates UFY-641.

Mulat said police chanced on the suspects’ vehicle and followed it all the way to Kauswagan highway.

Mulat said Alamada was cornered inside Room 64 of the motel while the others were caught while they were about to ride their vehicle to escape.

City police director Senior Supt. Roy Bahian then mobilized special units of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office to guard all exit points.

Chief Insp. Mardy Hortillosa, Cocpo spokesperson, said the suspects went in the motel while the police continued to monitor their movements.

Hortillosa said the suspects tried to escape when they sensed that the police were outside.

“Nakabantay sila kay pag-abot nila sa Resonnance Inn kalit kini sila nga mibalik mao nga gibabagan namo ang entrance and exit sa hotel. Wala na sila makasukol kay nalibutan dayun sila namo,” recounted Mulat.

Hortillosa said investigators were validating if the suspects really have links to the Maute group.

“Sa pagka karon kay  kamolo pa man ang pagpalawom sa atong investigation, wala pa kitay nakuha nga mga  data kon membro ba gyud sila o dili sa Maute group,” said Hortillosa.

The suspects, now under detention, were to be charged with illegal possession of explosives, arms, illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Casubidan, one of the suspects, said he was merely in the city to buy a new vehicle. He said he brought Solaiman with him because he was his mechanic.

Casubidan said they went to the motel because it was already too late for them to return to Marawi city.

Alamada’s aunt, Johaira Umadan, said her nephew came to this city to visit a relative who was a patient at the Polymedic Hospital in Kauswagan.

Umandan said Alamada merely asked Casubidan for a free ride back to Marawi.

“Hindi lahat Muslim masama, hindi lahat Muslim nagbebenta at gumagamit ng illegal drugs. Planted lahat ang nakuha ng pulis sa kanila. Masama ang loob ko sa ating mga pulis,” Umadan said.