Philippines says militant's widow recruited foreign fighters

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine authorities said Wednesday they have arrested a militant leader's widow who recruited foreign fighters and spread extremist propaganda related to the siege of a southern city by fighters linked to the Islamic State group.

Complaints for 14 counts of inciting to rebellion have been filed before the Department of Justice against Filipina Karen Aizha Hamidon, who was presented at a news conference by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

She was arrested on Oct. 11 and was said to have been married to Mohammad Jaafar Maguid of the small but violent Islamic group Ansar Khalifa Philippines who was killed in January in a clash with police in southern Sarangani province.

"She gained international notoriety in the middle of 2016 when she successfully recruited several Indian nationals to come to the Philippines and join the radical Islamic extremist groups in Mindanao," Aguirre said.