Tuesday, October 29, 2013

DOJ forms 5-member panel vs Misuari, others

From GMA News (Oct 29): DOJ forms 5-member panel vs Misuari, others

The Department of Justice has formed a five-member panel to handle the criminal charges filed against Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari in connection with the recent Zamboanga armed conflict.

The team is headed by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Rochard Fadullon, with members Regional Prosecutor Pete Medalle, Assistant Senior Prosecutors Aristotle Reyes and Niven Canlapan, and Prosecuting Attorney Cesar Angelo Chavez III.

 "In the interest of the service and pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, a team of prosecutors is hereby constituted to handle the active prosecution of the cases (against Misuari and the others)," said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in Department Order 799.

 In early October, the DOJ filed the rebellion charges and violation of the International Humanitarian Law (Republic Act 9851) against Misuari and 60 others for the assault on Zamboanga City in September. 

Charged along with Misuari were some of his commanders including Habier Malik. The charges were filed before the Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court on Oct. 7.

Only Misuari, Malik and two others are still at large while 57 of those charged are now under detention at the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City.

 The DOJ said the attack on Zamboanga resulted in several casualties and extensive damage within the city, particularly in barangays Mariki, Rio Hondo, Sta. Barbara, Sta Catalina, Kasanyangan, Talon-talon and Mampang, among others.

 The rebellion charge stemmed from Misuari and his men's taking up arms and attacking members of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces, as well as innocent civilians and by committing “acts of murder, pillage, disorder, looting, arson and destruction of private and public properties.

They were also charged for their acts of violence against the residents who did not take an active part in the armed hostilities and for taking non-combatant civilians as hostages while fighting with government forces. The Zamboanga City attack led to the deaths of 12 people, and injuries to "75 percent of civilians."

 The criminal charges also dealt with the armed group's forcible opening of houses, taking about 300 hostages which they used as human shields and the burning of 9,732 houses and building, both public and private, causing a damage amounting to more than P200 million.

 The Zamboanga prosecutors did not recommend any bail for the MNLF leaders while a P200,000 bail was recommended for their followers. No bail was also recommended for the violation of RA 9851.

 A few weeks after filing the charges in Zamboanga, the Supreme Court approved the DOJ request to transfer the case to Taguig because the courts in Zamboanga had been adversely affected by the armed conflict in September.

 http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/332981/news/nation/doj-forms-5-member-panel-vs-misuari-others

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