PCG: Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao (CGDNM) and Coast Guard District Western Visayas (CGDWV) apprehended one Maute sister and two Maute terrorists onboard MV St. Therese of the Child Jesus, a passenger vessel of the 2GO Shipping Lines Incorporated docked at port of Iloilo after a hot pursuit operation yesterday, 18 June.

Prior the said apprehension, CGDNM received initial reports that suspected members of Maute terrorist group were tracked at Brgy. Macabalan near Pier area, Port of Cagayan De Oro City.  Immediately after, CGDNM personnel conducted visual verification of passenger at terminal area, Port of Cagayan de Oro City.  

Still on search, CGDNM with National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) 10 jointly traced passenger manifest of the subject vessel, which was assumed to board the alleged suspects since it is the last ship to depart from Cagayan De Oro bound to Arraste Pier, Fort San Pedro, Brgy. Concepcion, Iloilo City after the reports were initiated but names submitted were not found on the manifest.

Further, the said district also coordinated with the PPA Port Police, CDO City to review the Port CCTV wherein they found out that the suspected personalities positively passed the x-ray machine of said port on or about 10:35 PM on June 17, 2017.

After minutes of discussion, District Commander of CGDNM, CAPT LEOVIGILDO G PANOPIO PCG, decided to dispatch PCG Islander plane and departed Lumbia Port CDO City bound for Iloilo City for a hot pursuit operation.  Onboard PCG Islander is a team composed of Commander, CGDNM, Field Station Northern Mindanao (FSNM) personnel, and two NICA Region 10 personnel.  

Meanwhile, coordination were conducted with PCG Sea Marshal onboard for advance identification of suspects and to the ship’s master requesting for delay of arrival at Port of Iloilo and dock upon signal. Upon arrival, CAPT PANOPIO PCG conducted briefing to CGDWV Field Station WV personnel together with CGK9 Iloilo, the joint team composed of to assist in the conduct of the said operation.  

On the other hand, CGS Iloilo also dispatched three aluminum boats and one diesel fast craft prepositioned at vicinity waters off Iloilo City and Guimaras Strait to act as maritime security during the arrival of said vessel and conducted Port Security at the said pier.   

Immediately after subject vessel docked at port of Iloilo as reported by the Port Security, PCG team boarded and arrested the three suspected members of Maute Group including: Ajajid, Pangumping Romato, 20 yrs old from Iligan City; Farida, Pangumping Romato, 23 yrs old from CDO; and Abdulrahman, Serd Dimakutah, 25 yrs old from Maranaw, Lanao Del Sur by virtue of Arrest Order No. 2 issued by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

The suspects were brought to Coast Guard Station Iloilo for proper disposition. 

In lieu of the conduct of operation, PCG Officer-in-Charge, COMMO JOEL S GARCIA PCG, Ph.D., HD., Al Haj, lauded the efforts of the PCG personnel and reaffirmed the continuous pursuit of PCG’s full allegiance to protect the country from all forms of national security threat.