Police, Muslim leaders hold dialogue over raid

Police authorities and Muslim leaders in Minglanilla town yesterday held a dialogue following a complaint by a Muslim elder who was the subject of a raid by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group last week.

Operatives from the CIDG led by Chief Inspector Rex Derilo met with Ustadz Najib Rasul and other Muslim leaders in the town at the sala of Regional Trial Court Branch 9 Judge Geraldine Faith Econg to clear things out.

Econg had issued the search warrant to the CIDG personnel on the alleged stash of firearms and explosives hidden at the house of Rasul. But the raid last Friday dawn turned out to be negative because not a single gun or explosive was found inside Rasul's house.

Rasul complained that he was treated like a criminal by the CIDG operatives who poked M16 rifles at him.

When interviewed by reporters yesterday, Derilo said he had talked to Rasul on the purpose of the raid, but did not give further details citing national security concerns.

"I assure him (Rasul) that we will conduct an investigation on our personnel who were involved in the operation. If we found out that there were infractions on the procedure of the operation, we will file charges against them," Derilo said.

The police official, however, said Rasul never made mention of possible filing of charges against the CIDG.

Last week, regional police director Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio, Jr. apologized to Rasul and explained the police side over the raid.

The general said the manner of the operation could be attributed to the nature of the information they received on suspected terrorists staying at the house of Rasul.

Rasul, who owns a house in Lipata, Minglanilla, was one of the two subjects of the search warrant. The other was not around during the raid, Sr. Supt. Jorge Corpuz earlier said.

The dialogue between the police and Muslim leaders reportedly ended in handshakes and hugs. - Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM