SC transfers trial of MNLF members in Zamboanga crisis to Taguig

Posted to InterAksyon (Apr 14): SC transfers trial of MNLF members in Zamboanga crisis to Taguig

The Supreme Court has ordered the transfer of the trial of Moro National Liberation Front leaders and members from Taguig City to Pasig City for security reasons.

The MNLF members are facing charges over their close to month-long incursion into Zamboanga City last September, which triggered fighting with government forces that claimed the lives of more than 200 combatants and civilians, saw more than 10,000 homes and buildings destroyed, and displaced more than 120,000 people.

The en banc ruling dated April 1 adopted the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator and "noted the letter dated March 3, 2014 of Judges Lorifel Lacal Pahimna and Leili Cruz Suarez, Presiding Judges of Branches 69 and 163, respectively, RTC (Regional Trial Court), stationed in Taguig City."

The April 1 resolution amended an earlier one dated October 17 last year granting the request of the Department of Justice to transfer the venue of the cases against leaders and members of the MNLF by changing or transferring the venue of the subject cases from Taguig City to Pasig City.

The new resolution "directed the executive judge of RTC, Pasig City, to conduct the raffle of the subject cases among the courts designated to hear family court cases, namely: Branches 158 and 261 in Pasig City; Branches 69 and 163, stationed in Taguig City; and Branch 162, stationed in San Juan City."

More than 200 members of the MNLF have been charged with rebellion.

Aside from this charge, MNLF founder Nur Misuari, his trusted aide, Habier Malik, who led the foray into Zamboanga City, and several other leading figures have also been charged with “crimes against humanity.

The DOJ has already indicted a total of 280 respondents.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/84781/sc-transfers-trial-of-mnlf-members-in-zamboanga-crisis-to-taguig