Father, uncle of MILF Davao bomber charged

DAVAO CITY – Charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder were filed yesterday against the leaders of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the bombing of Davao International Airport that left 21 people dead and almost 200 injured last Tuesday.

As this developed, authorities also arrested the father and the uncle of the alleged MILF suicide bomber, Montasher Sudang.

Police said the charge sheet included leaders of the MILF led by chairman Hashim Salamat, vice chairman for military affairs Al Haj Murad, political affairs chief and peace negotiator Ghadzali Jaafar, spokesman Eid Kabalu and 50 other alleged accomplices.

Officials led by Southern Mindanao regional police commander Chief Superintendent Isidro Lapeña and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region XI chief Superintendent Delfin Galapon told a news conference that they invited for questioning Terso Undang and Undungan Sudang, father and uncle respectively, of the alleged suicide bomber.

Undungan told reporters that he merely visited the hospital morgue to get the body of his nephew but was surprised when they were arrested by the police.

"And since we are here, this is an opportunity for us to seek justice for the death of Montasher," he said.

Police said the two Sudangs were also active members of the MILF while Muntasher, who was among the listed fatalities, was tasked to trigger the bomb.

"We have strengthened our case with documentary, physical and testimonial evidence that would really pin down the suspects in the bombing," Lapeña said.

Assistant City Prosecutor Danilo Belo said the case would have to be evaluated further by a special team of six prosecutors earlier tasked by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assist the police to establish the case against the suspects.

In reaction, the MILF through their spokesman Kabalu dismissed the multiple murder raps filed against them saying the charges will not prosper in court.

"There is no case against us," Kabalu said. "And there is also nothing that we should apologize for in that incident because we still insist that we have not done anything. There is nothing to be sorry for on our part."

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, for his part, said he was certain that those directly responsible for the bombing would be unmasked and prosecuted.–with Roel Pareño, Perseus Echeminada