Court orders release of Misuari

MANILA, Philippines – Almost a year after he was allowed to be placed under house arrest, the Makati City regional trial court (RTC) has ordered former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari’s release from detention.

The 66-year-old Muslim leader, who is facing rebellion charges, was allowed to post a P50,000 bail bond in exchange for his temporary liberty. 

The Justice Department said the court order granting him bail was in line with a recent Cabinet decision. Peace process adviser Jesus Dureza welcomed the decision, calling Misuari “a partner for peace and development.”

Makati RTC Branch 59 Executive Judge Winlove Dumayas, in a telephone interview with The STAR, confirmed that he has granted Misuari’s motion for reconsideration of the court’s decision denying his original motion to post bail.

Dumayas said he granted the request after studying the arguments raised by the accused.

Misuari was charged with rebellion, along with several others, for participating in an alleged uprising in Mindanao in November 2001.

Dumayas said his original decision was to grant P100,000 bail but the same was reduced on the request of all the accused who argued that they do not have the money.

“I granted the P50,000 bail provided that it will be paid in cash,” he said, adding that the hearing will continue on May 26 since the prosecution intends to present at least two more witnesses.

In May 2006, Misuari and his spiritual adviser Ustadz Abuharis Usman, one of his co-accused, were allowed to be placed under house arrest.

Branch 138 Judge Sixto Marella, who handled the case before it was transferred to Dumayas, ordered their transfer from the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) to a house located at No. 27 6th Street, New Manila, Quezon City.

Both initially requested “hospital arrest,” claiming that their health deteriorated because of their detention in Fort Sto. Domingo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

After the accused submitted medical certificates, and were subjected to medical check-ups and several hearings, Marella granted their request to be transferred to the SLMC on Jan. 23, 2006 where they underwent medical examination for 10 days.

Their stay at the hospital eventually got extended to more than three months after they were found to be suffering from ailments that needed appropriate medical attention.

Dumayas said Misuari, who is now the only remaining accused in detention, is being ordered released from his detention or house arrest.

Free again

Misuari declared himself a free man yesterday as he vowed to continue his crusade in searching for lasting peace in Mindanao.

For the first time in six years, the former undisputed leader of the MNLF held a press conference at his detention house in New Manila to announce his intention of continuing his struggle to free Mindanao people from oppression and dislocation from their ancestral lands.

“I am a free man, I intend to continue my pursuit of peace,” he said after the sheriff handed him his release order.

Flanked by his wife Tarhata and three children, the former governor of the Autonomous Regional in Muslim Mindanao thanked the Makati court for its wisdom in granting him temporary liberty.  – Perseus Echeminada, AP