People using fake IDs to leave Marawi — Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has apprehended people using fake identification cards while leaving the Port of Iligan City.

The suspects will be investigated for possible links to the Maute terror group.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo yesterday said that there are three cases involving passengers arrested with forged IDs while about to board ships leaving the Port of Iligan in Lanao del Norte. 

Iligan, the port closest to Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, could serve as an entry and exit point for people, including Maute members and their supporters trying to escape authorities. 

He said there were three separate instances wherein Coast Guard personnel in Iligan caught people who presented fake IDs, claiming to be students and a preacher.

“We have instructed our officers and men to file the appropriate charges against these people. Maybe we could file falsification charges against them so that the public would know that we are alert to these kinds of schemes and discourage others from following their misdeeds,” he added.

Balilo admitted that they are not discounting the possibility that some of these offenders are members of the Maute group.

Lately, there had been reports of members of the terrorist group fleeing their stronghold in Marawi. 

The latest attempt was last Monday when five passengers who presented fake IDs entered at around 9 p.m. the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Passenger Terminal Gate 1 in Cagayan de Oro City. 

Immediately after the apprehension, local Coast Guard personnel brought the suspects to the PPA for investigation.

They were identified as Alinor Dimapora, 27, of Saguiaran, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; Abubacar Ibrahim, 33, of Bundiangkay, Maging, Lanao del Sur; Abdel Cali Hamid, 26, of Pindulunan in Maging; and Ameroding D Unte, 21, and Bashit G Unti, 22, both residents of Delausan Poblacion, Maging, Lanao del Sur.

The suspects reportedly submitted IDs issued by Systems Technology Institute (STI) ID, Duterte ID, Mindanao State University (MSU) ID and Postal ID that were forged.

When questioned, Dimapora could not answer simple queries. It was later learned that he could not read or write.

Last Sunday, three suspected members, including the sister of the Maute brothers, were seen leaving Cagayan de Oro port and were captured when they reached Iloilo.

There were also 13 Maute members discovered to be confined in a Zamboanga hospital and there might be members of the group who have joined the evacuees staying in camps.

Balilo said that while the reports of passengers using fake IDs were only found in Iligan port, they would ask their personnel manning the port in Cagayan de Oro to check for similar incidents.