GENERAL SANTOS CITY - A South Cotabato judge has ordered the arrest of a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander and his men for the May 3 siege on a highway in Tupi town.
Tupi Judge Gaydefredo Ocampo issued the arrest warrant against Commander Nadsid Faisal, one Danny Tabayag and their men, all belonging to the MILF's 204th Brigade based in Barangay Bentung Sulit, Polomolok town.
The warrant came as a result of brigandage charges earlier field by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 12 (Central Mindanao) against them.
Ocampo recommended a bail of P28,000 for each of the accused, who are also set to be charged for illegal detention and damages.
According to the CIDG, Faisal personally led about a hundred of his men in taking a portion of the highway linking this city and South Cotabato last May 3 and held several vehicles and more than a hundred passengers at bay.
Faisal and his men blockaded the highway with a passenger bus and several private vehicles in Polonuling, Tupi at about 6 a.m. and took their passengers hostage.
They herded the commuters to the nearby Tropifresh plant of Dole Philippines, but all managed to escape when clashes ensued between the Moro rebels and responding government troopers.
An Army soldier was wounded while a number of rebels were believed killed in the gunfight. A suspected rebel was also captured.
The CIDG-Region 12 said Faisal, clad in camouflage attire, personally directed the siege.
It also accused Faisul's group of robbing commuters, among them Lake Sebu Mayor Samuel Loco, of their personal belongings. Loco lost a government-issued M-16 Armalite rifle and several important personal items.
Faisal admitted responsibility for the incident and also for the simultaneous siege on the Palian bridge, also in Tupi, in a subsequent statement to the media.
The crime of brigandage, according to Article 306, Chapter II of the Revised Penal Code, is committed when "more than three persons formed a band of robbers for the purpose of committing robbery in the highway or kidnapping persons for the purpose to be attained by means of force and violence."
Persons found guilty of brigandage face the penalty of prision mayor (six to 12 years imprisonment) to a maximum of reclusion temporal (12 to 20 years).
Meanwhile, noting that tension in South Cotabato arising from the Muslim insurgency has "subsided," members of the provincial board have changed their mind on the planned purchase of firearms to protect themselves.
During the session the other day, the 15-man board recalled an earlier resolution for the firearms' purchase and agreed to channel the allotted funds to other needs.
Last week, the board gave Gov. Hilario de Pedro III the go-signal to purchase at least 15 9 mm pistols and 1,500 rounds of ammunition.
Board member Eliordo Ogena proposed that the provincial government instead acquire communications equipment for the use of local officials and militia units.
"If we buy these arms now, they will no longer serve their purpose since the trouble has already subsided. My personal concern here is that these firearms might even place our lives in danger in the future," Ogena said.
He said the recent siege by MILF rebels on the Palian bridge in Tupi town showed the evident lack of vital communications equipment of the local police.
Although the board has supported Ogena's proposal, De Pedro has already forwarded the resolution to Camp Crame which approved it and cleared the firearms' purchase.
Most residents, however, have criticized the earlier resolution, supposed to be funded from the province's P1-million peace and order fund approved last May 3.
The board members thought of acquiring firearms following reports that the MILF was planning to liquidate local officials.
Meanwhile, residents of Barangay Gasi in Kiamba, Sarangani fled in fear the other night after some 120 MILF rebels appeared in the village.
Col. Delfin Lorenzana, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, said the guerrillas wanted to return to Camp Abu Abayda in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.
To avoid any encounter, Kiamba Mayor Raul Martinez scouted for a pumpboat to ferry the Moro rebels. - With Olive Sudaria