Govt starts 'terrorism' case buildup against Misuari, loyalists

From InterAksyon (Sep 18): Govt starts 'terrorism' case buildup against Misuari, loyalists

Even as Zamboanga City has yet to be fully cleared of rebels, the government has started to build its case of terrorism against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari and his followers who attacked the city to wage their “war for independence.”

Deputy Chief for Operations Police Director Felipe Rojas Jr. said his office already ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) led by Police Director Francisco Uyami Jr. to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for an intensive and thorough investigation to determine the legal charges that would be filed in court.

Interviewed over ANC's Headstart, Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said the actions of Misuari and his followers could be construed as an act of terror.

Deles' office, in a message to InterAksyon.com, disputed an earlier version of this report that had the OPAPP chief outright calling Misuari a terrorist. Deles was never that categorical on Headstart, her office stressed.

A transcript of the show, obtained and relayed by OPAPP, reads thus:

Do you define Misuari as terrorist? When do you define one as a terrorist?

"I told this to OIC. What was done in Zambo which was an attack taking civilians as human shield does not in any way I understand rebellion. That kind of action is not a legitimate act of rebellion. Rebellion is you fight the combatants, the combat unit of government because you don't accept the authority of the government. What has happened and what we are hearing from the civilians that are now rescued..."

How would you define that personally?

"It's difficult to use the word terrorism."

But is it an act of terror?

"Of course. It has terrorized the communities, certainly. Way beyond the barangays directly affected. In fact the entire country is now under question."

Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr., spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said what Misuari and his men did against the people of Zamboanga City violated Republic Act 9851 (International Humanitarian Law Act).

If terrorism is proven, Misuari and his men could face charges for violation of RA 9372 (Human Security Act of 2007) or Anti-Terrorism Law.

The spokesmen of Misuari, lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla and Absalom Cervesa, have repeatedly said that the MNLF was in the city for their “war for independence” as ordered and directed by Misuari even though Zamboanga is not part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Earlier, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar made it clear to Misuari and his men that the city is not a part of ARMM and that the people of Zamboanga City will never agree to be a part of ARMM.

“Misuari’s men intruded into a city, a city that said ‘we are not part of you,’” Deles stressed.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/70978/govt-starts-terrorism-case-buildup-against-misuari-loyalists