Alleged IS-Maute recruiter asks more time to file defense in rebellion case

MANILA, Philippines — The alleged recruiter of Islamic State-linked Maute group asked for more time in submitting her defenses in the rebellion raps she is facing.

The Department of Justice on Friday has started the ball rolling on rebellion case of Karen Aizha Hamidon filed by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Members of the NBI-Counter Terrorism Division subscribed to the complaint-affidavit against Hamidon before Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong on today's preliminary investigation hearing.

Respondent Hamidon, however, failed to file her counter-affidavit. The 36-year-old alleged recruiter arrived at the DOJ without a lawyer, and was only accompanied by mother.

READ: NBI nabs IS-Maute recruiter in Taguig

Ong gave Hamidon until November 10, 10:00 a.m. to submit her counter-affidavit.

Hamidon was arrested by operatives of the NBI on last October in her residence at the Bonifacio Global City.

According to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, "Hamidon has been a person of interest to authorities since she gained international notoriety in the middle of 2016 when she successfully recruiter several Indian nationals to come to the Philippines and join the radical Islamic extremist groups in Mindanao."

The justice chief held a briefing on October 18 and revealed that Hamidon has been using messaging applications such as Telegram and WhatsApp to send recruitment messages to Muslims from India, Indonesia and Singapore to join in fighting government forces in Marawi.

The NBI operatives conducted forensic examination on Hamidon's cellphone, but initial checking on her phone revealed 296 posts of a message meant to promote rebellion in the besieged Marawi City.

The message reads: "The soldiers of Taghut are desperate to defeat the Muhajireen of the Islamic State of Marawi City… but Wallahi they won’t be successful. They won’t be able to defeat the force of Dawlah because Allah (Azza wa Jaal is on their side). That is why the Dawlah is once again inviting all our ikhwaanil Muslimeen in all parts of the Philippines and around the world to support our Muhajireen of East Asia. Let us go to Marawi, in Mindanao to join the war against the Conquerors of the soldiers of Tawagheet."

NBI Counterterrorism Division Chief Raoul Manguerra said that the bureau is verifying if Hamidon was a key player in the recruitment of foreign jihadists to join Maute terrorists.