Judge:  Arrest suspected Abu

The Regional Trial Court has ordered the arrest of a suspected Abu Sayyaf member facing charges of illegal possession of explosives after he missed the last two hearings of his case.

The court has considered him to have jumped bail as he has been properly notified of the two hearings, but has refused to attend.

RTC judge Rafael Yrastorza yesterday ordered the arrest of Jaynurin “Noy” Ampuan of Maguindanao.

“Let the warrant of arrest be issued against the accused,” Yrastorza made the order in open court.

According to Yrastorza, Ampuan was duly informed of the scheduled hearing yesterday, but despite that he failed to show up.

The accused also did not send any notice to the court stating the reasons for his absences.

Ampuan is said to be in Mindanao after he was released on a P100,000 bail.

The court has already cancelled his bail and ordered that the original P200,000 recommended bail shall be reinstated as soon as he is captured.

Ampuan was allowed to post only P100,000 bail after his motion for the reduction of bail was granted by the court.

His bail was reduced on condition that he will attend every time his case is scheduled for hearing.

Pending Ampuan’s arrest, Yrastorza temporarily shelved the motion of the prosecution to re-raffle the case to a regular court.

Assistant city prosecutor Rudolph Carillo earlier moved for the re-raffling of the case after they found out that the accused is not a minor as originally believed. 

The prosecution was able to obtain a certified true copy of Ampuan’s birth certificate from the National Statistics Office which shows that he was born on June 15, 1988.

Based on the NSO-certified birth certificate, Ampuan is already 19 years old and not a minor as claimed by his parents.

According to the prosecution, Ampuan’s case should not be heard in a family court like that of Yrastorza, but in regular courts.

Family courts are designated by the Supreme Court to hear cases involving minors and annulment of marriages.

Ampuan was intercepted by intelligence agents at the Cebu port sometime in August for carrying improvised explosives.

He was on his way to Manila from Cotabato City on board Superferry 5, which made a stop in Cebu City.

Found in his possession were a mortar and rifle grenade placed inside a sack containing bananas and sweet potatoes.

He alleged that he was only asked to bring the sack to Manila and that he did not know its contents.  (/NLQ)