[Manila Times] The former mayor of battle-torn Marawi City was arrested Wednesday evening at a police checkpoint in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental, two days after an arrest order was issued against him and more than 180 others for rebellion.Fahad "Pre" Salic is among 184 individuals charged for rebellion. Also charged was his brother, Omar Ali Solitario, likewise a former mayor of Marawi City, the PDP-Laban provincial chairman, and a commander of the Moro National Liberation Front. He remains at large.
Regional police spokesman Lemuel Gonda said Salic was arrested on Wednesday evening in San Martin village. He was en route to Cagayan de Oro City when he was flagged by members of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Public Safety Company.
The ex-mayor immediately denied involvement in the ongoing Maute attack on Marawi. He was temporarily locked up at Villanueva town jail. Salic is related to the Maute terrorist leaders, brothers Omar and Abdullah, who lead the so-called IS Ranao. Salic's wife, Rasmia, is a niece of Farhana Romato Maute, mother of the radical siblings..
In December, the two former mayors were said to have acted as government missionaries to the Maute rebels who took over Butig, Lanao del Sur, for ceasefire talks. They were said to be among a group of influential relatives of the Mautes who met with President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City in November last year on the latter's invitation.
Duterte had tagged the two as among narco-politicians in the province.
On Tuesday, authorities arrested Cayamora Maute, father of Omar and Abdullah, along with his third wife Kongan Alfonso Balawag and two other family members in Davao City.