FILE PHOTO OF NUR MISUARI
The spokesman of Nurulaji “Nur” Misuari, founder of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), on Thursday said they do not recognize the validity of the warrants issued by a court for the arrest of their leader and several others over the recent bloody and destructive fighting between MNLF fighters and government forces in Zamboanga City.
“Hindi namin ito pinapansin (We don’t pay attention to it),” said lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla in an interview over dzMM.
MNLF fighters loyal to Misuari went into some coastal barangays in Zamboanga City on the night of September 8 and clashes with responding government forces soon erupted.
The MNLF, said another Misuari spokesman Abasolom Cervesa, was in the city to forward their “war for independence.” But their attempt to seize control over the city hall and to march in the streets with their firearms were foiled by soldiers and policemen.
The fighting lasted almost three weeks, killed over 200 people, wounded more than 200 others, and displaced almost 120,000 civilians from their homes.
Zamboanga City Judge Eric Klumba of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) 9th Judicial Region Branch 13 issued warrants for rebellion charge (violation of Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code) and two warrants for crimes against humanity (violation of Section 4(c) subsections (1), (7), and 20 in relation to Section 7, second paragraph of the Republic Act 9851 otherwise known as “the Philippine Act on Crimes against International humanitarian law, genocide, and other Crimes against Humanity” and Section 4(b) subsection (1) and (3) of same law) against Misuari.
The issued warrants, a copy of which was emailed to Interaksyon.com by the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9), are dated September 8.
Also ordered arrested were Ustadz Habier Malik, ground commander in the siege, Bas Arki, Assamin Hussin, among others.
The charges are non-bailable criminal offenses.
Fontanilla said Misuari and the others will remain in hiding to arrest.
“Normal [na] magtatago ka dahil huhulihin ka< (It’s normal to hide when you’re about to be arrested),” he said.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said her office has been working with the courts for the transfer of all the arrested MNLF members to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bicutan, Taguig City from Zamboanga City.
De Lima said they have also asked the higher courts to transfer the hearing of the suspects’ cases to Manila.
In 2001, a rebellion charge was filed against Misuari and some others in connection with the Cabatangan siege, also in Zamboanga, that killed dozens of people. The case was filed and litigated before a Makati court. But in 2007 the case was dismissed. Misuari’s case of anti-terrorism was also dropped by Malacanang.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/72473/mnlf-faction-ignores-arrest-warrants-against-chairman
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