No proof, no case against Salic yet

By NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA,
Correspondents

EXCEPT for an arrest warrant from martial law administrator and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, police here have no evidence to show that could establish former Marawi mayor Fahad Salic’s links to rebellion or terrorism.

Neither is there a case filed against Salic who was arrested by the police at a checkpoint in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental on Wednesday night.

“Wala pa. Kay martial law man ta, unya ang kaso rebellion man,” said Supt. Lemuel Gonda, Camp Alagar spokesman.

Gonda said authorities found no evidence against the 57-year old politician when he was stopped and arrested at a checkpoint near the Police Provincial Office in San Martin, Villanueva town.

Gonda said Camp Alagar was unaware of the the full details or the exact reason for the arrest warrant.

“Based on [information from] the intelligence community, he has links to the Maute brothers. Iyang asawa link sa Maute clan,” Gonda said.

Salic is related to the Mautes by affinity as  his wife Rasmia is a niece of Farhana Romato Maute, mother of Abdullah and Omarkhayyam Maute, alleged top leaders of the extremist group Dawlah Islamiya.

Said Salic: “I am a native of Marawi City, and I was mayor for three terms. Sino bang tao diyan ang hindi ko kamag-anak? Sino bang tao diyan ang hindi ko supporter? So lahat ng tao diyan ay aking kababayan.”

Salic was with three other people in a white Ford Ranger with license plates AFA-1151 when the vehicle was flagged down by members of the National Police’s Regional Public Safety Company and Army soldiers. Gonda did not identify Salic’s companions.

Salic, who is from Barangay Kabingan in Marawi City, has a house at the gated and upper-class Xavier Estates in uptown Cagayan de Oro.

Salic and his companions were headed to Xavier Estates from Butuan City.

Gonda said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) would charge Salic with rebellion within three days since Wednesday night. If no case is filed, he said, the CIDG would be forced to free Salic.

He said there was nothing in Salic’s vehicle that could link the former mayor to terrorism or rebellion.

“Pag-search kagabi-e (Wednesday), wala may armas, kontrabando, kay mao man na ang atong gipangita,” Gonda said.

But he said authorities had Arrest Order no. 2, signed by Defense Secretary Lorenzana on June 5,  2017, that was used as the basis for the arrest of Salic.

Lorenzana ordered Salic’s arrest for violation of Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code or rebellion.

Also included in Lorenzana’s arrest order were Hamsa Romulo Muate, Uztads Acmad Maute, Kankan Romato Macadatu Usman, Engr. Talib Bayabao;

Said Yusop Macadatu, Akhol Asad, Abdulraman Maute, Ali A Maute, Aminkisa Romato, Macadato Nassif Romato Macadato;

Hanipa Halayodan Diamel, Solitardo Ab Salic, Faisal Binaning Romato, Acmad Momokan Guiner, Imam Daud;

Mike Ayonan, Jamil Yahya, Anthony Jake Perez and Jing Pagayao.

No case was filed against Salic or his companions as of yesterday. The CIDG said it was still working on documentation.

At the CIDG regional office inside Camp Evangelista, security was tightened after Salic was brought there for detention. He was not presented to reporters.

But shortly after his arrest on Wednesday, Salic strongly denied any hand in the Marawi crisis or direct links to the Maute Group.

“Even before the trouble in Marawi started, I was in Manila,” Salic said.

He maintained his innocence, saying he had nothing to do with any plan to attack Marawi.

Salic said he was unaware that Lorenzana ordered him arrested, and he was taken aback when he was told about it at the Villanueva checkpoint.

He said his conscience is clear, the reason why he avoided no government checkpoint.

Salic also denied allegations that he has been involved in the drug trade even as he belied President Duterte’s accusation that he is a “narco-politician.”

“I signed a waiver, and asked that I be investigated. I am not involved in drugs. I haven’t even used drugs,” Salic said.