Spaniard nabbed in Basilan convicted after plea bargain

From GMA News Online (Dec 22, 2022): Spaniard nabbed in Basilan convicted after plea bargain (By RICHA NORIEGA)

The Basilan Regional Trial Court has found Spanish national Abdelhakim Labidi Adib guilty beyond reasonable doubt for three counts of possession of "a loaded small arm."

According to the Department of Justice, Adib was arrested at a Basilan checkpoint in 2018 carrying explosives, and other items.

Prosecutors in their resolution found probable cause against Adib for three counts of illegal possession of explosives.

However, Adib's counsel during the trial opted for a plea bargain which had him pleading guilty to the lesser offense of three counts of possession of a loaded small arm.

The court, applying the indeterminate Sentence Law, sentenced Adib to suffer for each case imprisonment of a minimum of eight years and one day to a maximum of 14 years, eight months and one day.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla welcomed the conviction.

The DOJ said personnel of the Philippine Army conducted warrantless arrest against Adib on the basis of an intelligence report it received that two suspicious persons will be passing Barangay Townsite, Maluso, Basilan.

Arrested in Basilan

Adib, a Spanish national of Tunisian descent, was arrested in Basilan on January 22.

Two days later, the Armed Forces of the Philippines filed a complaint against him, saying it seized from him two grenades, various improvised explosive device components, various identification cards and cash amounting to P8,520.

“Adib is a known Abu Sayyaf sympathizer and ardent supporter for the establishment of Islamic caliphate in the Philippines,” the complaint stated.

A week later, Adib asked the DOJ to dismiss the criminal complaint against him, claiming he had nothing to do with the improvised explosive device components and hand grenades allegedly found on his person.

He had said he was only in the Philippines as a tourist, but the military found he was an overstaying foreigner as his visa had expired on December 8 last year.

Adib denial

Adib, in denying the charge against him, added that the arresting officers planted the items that were allegedly seized from him.

He also argued that the allegation of his being a sympathizer of the Abu Sayyaf group and a supporter for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the country were “baseless.”

Adib, a Spanish national of Tunisian descent, was arrested in Basilan on January 22, 2018.

Two days later, the Armed Forces of the Philippines filed a complaint against him, saying it seized from him two grenades, various improvised explosive device components, various identification cards and cash amounting to P8,520.

The complaint said then that Adib was an Abu Sayyaf sympathizer and a ardent supporter for the establishment of Islamic caliphate in the Philippines.

A week later, Adib asked the DOJ to dismiss the criminal complaint against him, claiming he had nothing to do with the improvised explosive device components and hand grenades allegedly found on his person.

He had said he was only in the Philippines as a tourist.

Adib, in denying the charge against him, added that the arresting officers planted the items that were allegedly seized from him.

He also argued that the allegation of his being a sympathizer of the Abu Sayyaf group and a supporter for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the country were “baseless.”

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