After several postponements, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Nur Misuari and three of his followers were arraigned yesterday on rebellion charges before a special court set up inside this heavily fortified police training camp.
Misuari refused to enter any plea at the arraignment, prompting presiding judge Norberto Geraldez, of the 4th Judicial Region, Branch 36, of Calamba City to enter a not guilty plea on behalf of Misuari and his co-accused during court proceedings that lasted all of 20 minutes.
Arraigned with Misuari were his security escorts Bakil Annay Harun, Addin Esguerra Ishmael and Gamar Bin Abd Razak.
Geraldez, upon the insistence of the defense, deferred until Jan. 30 the arraignment of Misuari’s spiritual adviser Abu Haris Usman and cohorts Omar Bin Abdullah and Akil Abdurahman Abdur, who were arrested with Misuari and face the same charges.
Their arraignment was deferred as they could not speak or understand English or Filipino. They will await the arrival of court-appointed interpreters before arraignment proceedings can begin.
The former ARMM governor and chieftain of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and his co-accused stood silently while the clerk of court read the charges against them and their lawyers aired objections regarding the legality of the proceedings.
Geraldez had to bang his gavel several times to silence Misuari’s defense lawyers, Homobono Adaza and Dallig Sumndad who, at one point in the arraignment, shouted their legal objections before the court in a last-ditch effort to have the arraignment postponed yet again.
"I don’t have anything to say," Misuari told The STAR shortly after his arraignment. "I am not very clear how these proceedings are going."
The former ARMM governor stands accused of inciting a bloody uprising by hundreds of MNLF followers in Mindanao on Nov. 19, 2001. Nearly 200 people died in the failed revolt.
However, Misuari denied the charges and said he would take his case to an international court if he fails to obtain justice here.
Misuari signed a peace deal with the government in 1996, ending the MNLF fight for Muslim self-rule in Mindanao which began in 1972. He was later installed as governor of the ARMM, but had a falling out with the government, which he accused of failing to fully implement the autonomy agreement.
Misuari said that, since his detention, his freedom had been violated by the government. "This is political injustice. I have been struggling for freedom of my people since 35 years ago. Without freedom in Mindanao, there will be anarchy and chaos — even you in Luzon will be affected."
Asked if his arraignment on rebellion raps will heighten the conflict in Mindanao, Misuari said the Bangsamoro people "have been mobilizing by the thousands and millions ever since. The conflict in Mindanao will continue."
Misuari added that he is hoping Justice Secretary-designate Simeon Datumanong, being Muslim, will be fair to him – an apparent dig at the rulings of former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez.
"I hope (Datumanong) will not be color-blind," Misuari said. "Although he is a politician, all I need is a fair trial. I don’t want a kangaroo court there."