IS terrorist remnant of 2017 siege nabbed in southern Philippines
The suspect has an arrest warrant for murder issued in 2014.
LANAO DEL SUR: The Philippine National Police (PNP) have arrested an alleged terrorist, a remnant of a pro-IS local terror group which fought government forces in their failed attempt to establish an IS territory in the Southeast Asia region in 2017.
The chief of the PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., in a statement Thursday (July 6), said personnel from the CIDG Lanao Del Sur Provincial Field Unit together with other PNP operating units implemented a search warrant which led to the arrest of Acmad Casim, a member of the IS-aligned Maute Group in Lakadun village, Masiu municipality, Lanao del Sur province, on Tuesday (July 4).
Caramat said that operating teams apprehended Casim also known as Batang Criminal for alleged violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Meanwhile, two other subjects, Aminola Casim and Pandi Dimaocom Mama, evaded arrest.
Police operatives seized from the suspect one para ordnance calibre .45 pistol, one steel magazine assembly for .45 calibre rounds, two live. 45 rounds and two empty shells.
Casim also has an arrest warrant for murder issued in 2014 with no bail recommended.
“Acmad Casim was a member of the notorious Maute Group, a terrorist that fought with Omar Maute during the infamous Marawi siege,” Caramat said, referring to a leader of the group which fought government forces during the 2017 five-month siege of Marawi City in Lanao del Sur where the militants attempted to establish IS's Southeast Asia wilayah or territory.