A ranking Abu Sayyaf Leader who is included in the US State Department’s List of Most Wanted Terrorists arrived yesterday morning to attend arraignment hearings in Zamboanga city amid very strict security preparations by authorities.
Khair Mundos, who has a USD1-million reward for his capture, arrived at the Zamboanga City Hall of Justice around 1:00 pm for his scheduled arraignment for Kidnapping with Serious Illegal Detention Charges.
Mundos together with his wife Azra and three other unidentified male individuals are facing charges for the kidnapping of Zamboanguenia nurse Preciosa Feliciano.
Preparations however came to naught after the arraignment was postponed to a later date due to a request from Mundos to be represented by Counsel of his own choosing.
Security officials led by Zamboanga City Police Office Sr. Supt Angelito Casimiro, Zamboanga City Reformatory Center Jail Warden Julius Arro and Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 Commanding Officer Col Ronald Juan personally attended to the security at the Hall of Justice, yesterday.
Security was provided by personnel from the Zamboanga City Police SWAT, Special Action Force 5th Special Action Battalion, Explosives and Ordnance and the Philippine Marines. An Armored Personnel Carrier was parked outside the Hall of Justice.
Security personnel were said to have been patrolling the grounds for two days in preparation for the arrival of Mundos yesterday.
Arraignment proceedings were postponed however after Mundos reportedly asked to be represented by a legal counsel of his own choice and not a court apponted one as provided by law.
Judge Gregorio dela Pena, Presiding Judge of Branch 12 reportedly reset the hearing to March this year.
Mundos was whisked straight from the Hall of Justice to the Zamboanga City International Airport for his flight back to Manila.
Mundos is reportedly a high ranking leader and financier of the Abu Sayyaf Group engaged in the transfer of funds from Al Qaeda to the local terrorist organisation
The funds were reportedly used to finance kidnapping and bombing operations in Mindanao.
He was arrested in the year 2004 on money laundering charges but escaped in the year 2007 from the Kidapawan Provincial Jail.
Mundos was re-arrested on June 11, 2014 near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Aside from kidnapping and serious illegal detention, Mundos is facing Multiple Murder and Frustrated Murder charges under Criminal Case No 551-2007.
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