MNLF leader Usong Ugong and his followers and assorted weapons seized by the police in Zamboanga City in September 2013. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
More than 50 arrested members of the Moro National Liberation Front who were implicated in a deadly attack in Zamboanga City last year may be freed after the Department of Justice recommended the dismissal of the criminal charges against them, television giant GMA reported Thursday.
It said 59 of over 270 people arrested and charged in connection with the attack are likely to be released. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the DOJ came up with the recommendation after the Pasig court handling the rebellion case ordered the prosecution to undertake a re-investigation.
"Sa tingin ng court, may mga akusado na hindi na-establish ang role," De Lima told reporters in Manila, adding, it is up to the court whether or not to approve the prosecution panel's recommendation.
De Lima also clarified that MNLF chairman Nur Misuari is still among those facing charges of rebellion and violation of the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity were filed in two batches in October and December 2013 against MNLF chairman Nur Misuari and more than 270 others for the assault on Zamboanga City, according to the report.
GMA said some of Misuari’s commanders, including his top leader Ustadz Khabir Malik, have been charged on October 7 at the Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court. But Misuari, Malik, and two others are still at large while 57 of those charged are being held 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 the villages of Mariki, Rio Hondo, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, Kasanyangan, Talon-Talon and Mampang.
The report said Misuari and his men were charged with rebellion for taking up arms and attacking government security forces and 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 residents who did not take an active part in the armed hostilities, and for taking non-combatant civilians as hostages during the fighting.
Commander Usong Ugong
It was unknown whether among those who would be freed included the 23 MNLF gunmen led by Commander Usong Ugong that yielded to the police during the rebel siege.
Ugong’s group surrendered to Senior Superintendent Jose Chiquito Malayo, then the local police chief, in the village of Mampang in exchange for a safe passage back to Basilan province. Ugong claimed that Misuari misled them into believing they would attend a peace rally in Zamboanga, but ended up hiding in the village when fighting erupted.
Malayo was initially reported to have been taken hostage by Ugong’s group, but this had been denied by the police officer who admitted he went to the village to negotiate for the surrender of the rebels.
But other reports claimed Ugong’s group was allegedly paid or working for a politician who sent the gunmen to Zamboanga to pose as surrenderees to demoralize the ranks of the rebel group and as a media propaganda. Assorted weapons were also seized by the police from Ugong’s group.
More than 400 people were killed and wounded in the fighting that lasted three weeks and displaced over 120,000 residents. Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabella Salazar said she will not allow the rebels to go unpunished.
Rebel forces led Malik stormed several villages in Zamboanga on September 9 and took over 200 people hostage and used them as shield against pursuing soldiers and authorities said almost all captives had been freed or rescued.
Misuari, who signed a peace accord with Manila in 1996, accused the Aquino government of reneging on the peal deal and launched a new rebellion, the second in more than a decade. In 2001, loyal forces of Misuari also attacked military bases in Zamboanga City and Jolo town in Sulu province and the clashes killed over 100 people.
http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net/2014/11/59-arrested-mnlf-members-in-zambo-siege.html
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