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
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
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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