Gov’t prosecutors indict alleged supporter of Maute Group for recruiting followers through social media

December 13, 2017

Government prosecutors approved the prosecution of a woman arrested in Taguig City last October for allegedly recruiting through social media fighters for the Maute Ggroup who engaged government troops in nearly five months of heavy fighting in Marawi City.

The justice department indicted Karen Aizha Hamidon with 295 counts of inciting to rebellion before the Taguig City Regional Trial Court.

In a resolution signed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong and approved by acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan, the justice department also found Hamidon liable for violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Prosecutors recommended a P20, 000 bail for each count for her temporary liberty.

“Respondent’s acts of inciting others to commit rebellion was done by posting various messages through social media multiple times. In sum, respondent should be charged for 295 counts of inciting to rebellion in violation of Article 138 of the Revised Penal Code, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175,” the resolution stated.

The justice department dismissed Hamidon’s claim she was asked by an NBI undercover agent to commit the alleged crime.

Hamidon was the wife of Mohammad Jaafar Maguid alias Tokboy and an ex-wife of Singaporean national Muhammad Shamin Mohammed Sidek, identified as having links to the Islamic State.

Maguid is the former leader of the Ansar Khalifa Philippines who was killed by the military in January this year in Sarangani province.

Ansar Khalifa is allegedly behind the attack in the Roxas night market in Davao City in September last year that killed more than a dozen people. DMS