DOJ: Drop charges vs 59 in Zamboanga siege
MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Justice recommended the dropping of rebellion charges against 59 suspected members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in connection with the Zamboanga siege last year, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima confirmed Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, De Lima said the recommendation was a result of the reinvestigation conducted by the DOJ upon orders of the Pasig Court.
“Tingin ng court, may mga akusado na hindi na-establish ang role [sa siege]. Yung iba basta lang pinapunta doon sa Zamboanga, mga followers,” De Lima said.
De Lima said they were still determining who else among the 284 accused should be dropped from the charge sheet.
“Mas okay sa amin na konti lang ang lilitisin,” she said.
A source earlier said most of the 59 accused were caught during the crossfire between the rebels and military and were mistakenly identified as MNLF members.
“Yung iba, wala talagang ebidensya,” the source said. The Pasig Regional Trial Court handling the case asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines to comment on the DOJ recommendation.
“It is up to the court to dismiss the charges against the 59 or not,” the official said. The 59 accused are among the 284 charged with rebellion.
Among the accused are MNLF founding chair Nur Misuari and MNLF commanders Ustadz Habier Malik, Bas Arki and Assamin Hussin. All of them are still in hiding.
De Lima said the manhunt against the MNLF leaders was ongoing.
DOJ: Drop charges vs 59 in Zamboanga siege | Inquirer News
Charges against 60 in Zamboanga siege to be dropped for lack of evidence
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government prosecutors have recommended the dismissal of rebellion and genocide charges against 60 of the more than 200 persons charged in connection with the September 2013 siege of the city as they showed no signs of having fired weapons and no witnesses had linked them to the month-long violence.
Regional state prosecutor Peter Medalle said Wednesday that the recommendation to a court in Pasig City where the charges have been lodged, was reached after the panel of prosecutors, headed by Richard Fadullon, conducted a re-investigation of the charges against the accused.
“Resulting from the investigation is the recommendation for the dismissal of accusations against 60 of the accused respondents, principally on the basis of the absence of gunpowder residue,” Medalle said.
He said also that no witness had testified that the 60 had taken part in the rampage by followers of Moro leader Nur Misuari.
The names of those cleared of charges were not immediately available but Commissioner Edilwasif Baddiri of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos said they were aware the charges against them would eventually be dismissed.
Of those detained and charged, 10 were minors and five were females, one of them pregnant, but it could not be immediately ascertained if they were among the 60.
“This move is a big step to freedom,” Baddiri said, adding that it was on Nov. 10 when they knew the 60 accused would be cleared.
A total of 278 individuals were arrested and detained in connection with the siege, in which more than more than 100 were killed. They were later charged, along with Misuari and other Moro National Liberation Front leaders, with murder and crimes against humanity.
With the dropping of the charges against 60 of the accused, the number of alleged MNLF fighters to go on trial will be reduced to 218, Baddiri said.
Charges against 60 in Zamboanga siege to be dropped for lack of evidence | Inquirer News
DOJ: Drop charges vs 59 in Zamboanga siege
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