Nur’s trial reset to May 16

FORT STO. DOMINGO, Sta. Rosa, Laguna – Upon his motion, the arraignment on rebellion charges of former governor Nur Misuari of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was reset yesterday to May 16.

Judge Norberto Geraldez of the Calamba Regional Trial Court also granted the 60-year-old Misuari’s request for conjugal visits by his two wives anytime within the day in his detention bungalow inside the Special Action Force (SAF) training camp here.

Geraldez allowed Misuari’s wives and other family members to visit him beyond 5 p.m. on certain conditions, the guidelines of which would be released soon, according to a prosecutor.

Minutes before the proceedings started, Misuari, who looked haggard, told reporters he was leaving everything in the hands of God and to "people of goodwill" and their conscience.

"I’m not the only one on trial here," he said. "The government itself is on trial as the (Organization of Islamic Conference). All these are accrued from the non-implementation of the peace accord. This is a win-win case for us and a lose-lose case on the part of the government."

Salvador Panelo, Misuari’s lead counsel, told the court Misuari’s arraignment will be "an exercise in futility" until and after the Supreme Court resolves his petition questioning the legality of his arrest and the court’s jurisdiction.

"We asked the court to reset the hearing because there is a prejudicial question before the Supreme Court," he said.

Misuari has asked the Supreme Court to compel the government to try him in Jolo instead of Fort Sto. Domingo, he added.

Geraldez also ordered the nine-member proseccution team headed by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño to submit within five days the government’s opposition to Misuari’s motion that he be provided a laptop computer in his detention place.

In his argument, Panelo said Misuari needed a laptop because he is writing a book.

Sporting a blue coat and checkered tie, Misuari and his spiritual adviser, Abu Harris Osman, were ushered into the courtroom at about 9:15 a.m. by SAF director Chief Superintendent Rogelio Bathan.

Osman is detained with Misuari in a bungalow originally built for ousted President Joseph Estrada and his son, former San Juan mayor Jinggoy Estrada.

Earlier at about 8:45 a.m., jail guards from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology brought Misuari’s co-accused to court from Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

They are: Bakil Annay Harun, Akil Abduraman Abdua, Gamar Bin Abdu Rajak, Johan Sawadian Sanzibar, Uddin Esguerra Ishmael, and Omar Abdullah.

Misuari embraced each one of them when he arrived.

Minutes before the proceedings started, Geraldez arrived on a bullet-proof van, escorted by several police cars and was immediately brought inside the courthouse.

Outside the courthouse, hundreds of SAF troops stood guard with assault rifles on the ready, and an armored personnel carrier mounted with a machinegun blocked the road.

Reporters had to pass through six layers of police guards who frisked each and every person for any hidden camera or electronic gadget.

A foreign correspondent described the proceeedings as like "a military tribunal" as armed policemen and jail guards packed the courtroom.

After Geraldez ordered the arraignment postponed, SAF troops immediately hustled Misuari to a waiting white Mitsubishi L-300 van and drove him to his detention bungalow, several meters away.

Also present at the hearing were Laguna Provincial Prosecutor George Dee and assistant prosecutors Loreto Masa and Miguel Noel Ocampo.

Misuari is accused of leading his men in attacking a military base in Jolo on November 17 last year, resulting in the killing of scores of civilains.

Misuari and his followers were arrested in Sabah a few days after the rebellion, and deported to the Philippines last Jan. 7.

The government also charged Misuari with mismanaging the ARMM, and the former governor countered that Malacañang failed to release enough development funds.

Meanwhile, the Estradas will reportedly be moved to Fort Sto. Domingo from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City in the coming days.

Sources said workers are spedding up the construction of another detention bungalow across Misuari’s place of detention.

However, Camp Crame insiders said the new detention bungalow is being built as part of a contingency plan in case the Sandiganbayan special division orders the transfer of the Estradas.

"The first (detention bungalow) is no longer vacant and we’ve got to have a reserve," a police official said.

The official said the Philippine National Police is also monitoring events leading to May 1, the first anniversary of the storming of Malacañang by supporters of Estrada.

"If things get out of control among Erap supporters in the coming days, we will petition the court for the transfer of the ex-President to Fort Sto. Domingo," he said.

The new detention bungalow is located on a slope just above the courthouse and separated by a dirt road leading to Misuari’s detention place.– With Rene Alviar