MNLF hits out at gov’t diversionary tactics in Zamboanga siege case

From the Daily Tribune (Nov 29): MNLF hits out at gov’t diversionary tactics in Zamboanga siege case

The dropping of charges against 59 suspected members of the Moro National Liberation Front proves that the government only resorted to diversionary tactic in filing cases against the Nur Misuari-led group in connection with the 2013 Zamboanga City siege, an MNLF official yesterday said.

Lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla, spokesman for the MNLF faction of Misuari, stressed the filing of cases against the MNLF members was an “incendiary action” of the Aquino administration, considering the peace agreement between the government and the MNLF.

“It shows that the cases are more of diversionary tactics…This is an incendiary action of the government considering the peace agreements,” he told The Tribune.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) had earlier dismissed the criminal charges against 59 of the 284 accused MNLF members in connection with the September 2013 siege of Zamboanga City for “lack of sufficient evidence.”

In a 63-page resolution on the reinvestigation ordered by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 158, the DoJ said the charges for rebellion, insurrection and violations of Republic Act 9851, or the “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crime Against Humanity,” against the alleged followers of Misuari should be withdrawn.

“The respondents were not duly proved by the evidence on record to have participated in the crimes alleged... Their individual criminal liability was not clearly shown. As far as the respondents-accused are concerned, there was no positive identification by any of the civilian witnesses presented by the complainant (Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 9),” the DoJ resolution which was made public the other day said.

The Justice department stressed the only evidence against them — affidavits of arrest executed by the military and police — “failed to state with certainty the actual acts perpetrated by the arrested respondents-accused that would make them liable of the offenses charged.”

The accused-respondents gave various defenses before the DoJ panel, with some of them claiming they were unceremoniously rounded up by authorities.

The conflict resulted in the killing of more than 200 persons while more than 100,000 were displaced.

The DoJ filed rebellion charges against the MNLF personalities, led by Misuari and his loyal commanders Ustadz Habier Malik, Bas Arki and Assamin Hussin. The four remained at-large.

There were MNLF members now detained after they were arrested or surrendered at the height of the conflict that lasted for 21 days.

Aside from rebellion charges, the accused were also charged with violation of Republic Act (RA) 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and other Crimes against Humanity.

“The filing of case against Maas (Misuari’s nickname) is the greatest blunder of the government,” Fontanilla said.

Misuari has declared independence from the Philippine government in August 2013 in protest of the government signing an agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a breakaway faction of the MNLF.

The MNLF founding chairman established the “Bangsamoro Republik” after accusing the government of abrogating the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) between the MNLF and the Philippine government.

The MNLF maintained that the 1996 FPA was not fully implemented up to now.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/mnlf-hits-out-at-gov-t-diversionary-tactics-in-zamboanga-siege-case