MANILA – The Department of Justice has completed its preliminary investigation into the complaint filed by the government against the woman tagged as the widow of Maute Terror group leader Mohammadhayan ‘Otto’ Maute.
The complaint filed by the military and the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is now deemed submitted for resolution.
Otto’s supposed widow, Najiya Dilangalen Karon Maute, did not appear at the last hearing and also failed to submit a counteraffidavit.
According to senior assistant state prosecutor Peter Ong, Maute decided not to submit a counteraffidavit after the complainants failed to submit additional evidence.
They had accused her of providing help to the Maute Group, a claim based on testimony of a certain Martino Elyana.
Elyana was one of dozens taken captive by the Maute Group which laid siege to Marawi City on May 23, 2017, and held off government forces for nearly five months.
Elyana was able to escape from Maute captivity in July 2017. He had testified that he saw Najiya and Otto Maute bringing food to some Maute members.
Apart from Elyana’s testimony, the military could not present any other evidence against Najiya.