[PhilStar] At least four wanted members of the Daesh-inspired Maute terrorist group were captured during a military operation in Lanao del Sur. The suspects identified as Pao Panganga (alias Pao Faizal), Alex Areg Bagul, Alisata Tumao Maute, and Saadra Macapanton Madayan, were captured early Thursday moring in a village of Lanao del Sur.Military spokesperson Jo-Ann Petinglay said the troops recovered from the suspects three high-powered firearms, a pistol, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and drug paraphernalia. She said the suspects, known to have rogue personalities, were wanted for illegal activities such as kidnap-for-ransom, gun-for-hire, carnapping, extortion and illegal drugs trade in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.
Pentinglay said the suspects are also suspected in the ambush of Police Superintendent Abner Wahab Santos, former city police director of Marawi City Police. According to Petinglay, Panganga was involved in a series of kidnappings in Marawi City, specifically the abduction of Omira Lotao, an employee of the Mindanao State University on March 5.