MANILA, Philippines - The arrest of members of the Maute group in Cotabato City has derailed the terror group’s plans to launch bomb attacks across Mindanao, the Philippine Army (PA) said yesterday.
Army spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao said the bombing of a night market in Davao City that killed 15 civilians and wounded 70 others was part of the terror plan of the group.
Security forces have arrested eight of 10 Maute members in a series of counterterror operations in Cotabato City, where the Lanao del Sur-based group has established safehouses.
“Based on their plans, they will conduct terrorist activities in Mindanao,” Hao said, adding the group had been targeting Davao or Maguindanao.
But the arrest of three suspects tagged in the Davao City bombing, which was followed by the arrest of another and four more later, disrupted the Maute gang’s terror plans.
“The series of arrests prevented them from carrying out their plans,” Hao said.
He was referring to the recent arrest of four suspects tagged in another bomb attack in Davao City in September.
A team of military and police officers arrested the four in the villages of Tamontaka and Rosary Heights 7 in Cotabato City.
The team seized from the suspects three improvised explosive devices fashioned out of a 60mm mortar and 105mm howitzer rounds.
On Oct. 4, military agents arrested three members of the Maute group in Cotabato City.
The father of one of the suspects was later arrested after he was found to be supporting the group.
The Maute group, who declared allegiance to the Middle East-based Islamic State (IS), has links with the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.