Ex-Sulu gov, Sen. de Lima, 3 others face raps for 'financing' ASG members

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 18): Ex-Sulu gov, Sen. de Lima, 3 others face raps for 'financing' ASG members

Human rights activist Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie filed Friday a complaint against former Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan, Senator Leila de Lima, Mehol Sadain, Edilwasif Baddiri and Wendel Sotto before the Office of the Ombudsman Mindanao for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) particularly on crime financing of terrorist.

Tulawie and Abner Salahi Tahil, also another complainant, accused Tan, de Lima, Sadain, Baddiri and Sotto of violating Republic Act No. 10168 or the Act Defining the Crime of Financing Terrorism for “knowingly and directly aiding, protecting, providing shelter, transportation and legal services and financing the release of accused Abu Sayyaf members Mohammd Sali Said, Jul Ahmad Ahadi and Robin Sahiyal at the Special Intensive Care Area (SICA) of Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig". They were reportedly high valued members of the ASG.

In their complaint, Tulawie and Tahil said they have knowledge of such acts of the respondents because all happened during their trial of their criminal cases before Branch 19 of the Regional trial Court in Manila.

During the "Kapihan sa PIA" forum Friday, Tulawie said SICA is a special facility designed for high risk and dangerous inmates. It was where the Abu Sayyaf inmates were detained. According to him, having been incarcerated there for three years, his co-complainant was able to witness how the respondents allegedly entered into shadowy dealings with the ASG for the purpose of producing witnesses to pin him down in his criminal case.

It may be recalled that Tulawie and Tahir were implicated to the Sulu bombing incident in 2009, of which among the 12 victims was Tan, then the Sulu governor. Tulawie and Tahir were released on July 19 after they were acquitted by the court on July 20 last year.

Tulawie and Tahir complained that Tan, then Justice Secretary De Lima, Sadain, who was the head of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos) worked for the release of said ASG members on account that they were innocent Muslims wrongly arrested due to mistaken identity despite their knowledge that said ASG members were high valued terrorists.

“The acts of providing and making available to terrorists the funds, financial assistance, shelter and legal services with the use of their public offices and by taking advantage of the powers, influence and connections of their respective public offices falls within the ambit of financing of terrorism penalized by RA 10168 and RA3019,” the complainants said.

According to them, despite the written protests, media statements and official communications to her office condemning the release of the three ASG inmates, De Lima did not bother to respond to formal letters and media statements.

“She allowed Mohammad Sali Said to be placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) and was given security protection, financial assistance and shelter by her office. What was worst was that while on paper Mohammad Sali Said was supposed to be under WPP of the DOJ, the truth was that he was freely returned to Sulu and continued with kidnapping activities of the ASG,” the complainants said.

They alleged that Said even declared that he was untouchable because of the protection of de Lima and Tan.

Both Tulawie and Tahir also accused the same officials of dishonesty, neglect of duty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Tulawie, who is now based in Davao after he was released by the court last year, dismissed speculations the filing of the case was his way of getting back at Tan, saying, “This is my contribution to the efforts of finishing the Abu Sayyaf Group and dismantle their mantle of protection within government functionaries.”

He said the sphere of power of Tan would not end the government’s problem on ASG if nobody would expose them.

“Despite the countless military operations against them (ASG), the reason why up to now the ASG is still alive and kicking and going about with the usual kidnapping spree is because we have officials in government such as the above-named respondents who are knowingly and willfully protecting them,” Tulawie said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=941272