MANILA, Philippines – Police will charge two Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas accused of bombing Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City with violating the Human Security Act (HSA) of 2007 before the Zamboanga City Prosecutors Office.
Zamboanga City police Director Superintendent Lurimer Detran said the case will test the extent by which the new anti-terrorism law could stop suspected terrorists.
“As soon as we have completed the documentary requirements we are filing cases against them,” he said.
Detran did not name the two suspects, who will also face charges of multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder.
“We have witnesses who have positively identified them (suspects). And as soon as the case is filed and the warrant issued against them, we will have the legal grounds to arrest them even if they’re inside their so-called territory,” he said.
What is holding them from going to court are the medical certificates of the victims, he added.
Zamboanga Peninsula Region police commander Director Jaime Caringal has tagged members of the MILF’s special operations group as the perpetrators of the May 29 bombing.
Marines to show evidence vs MILF
A military officer has presented evidence to show that the MILF had colluded with the Abu Sayyaf in attacking a Marine brigade preparing to leave Basilan for Metro Manila.
Col. Rustico Guerrero, 1st Marine Brigade commander based in Tabiawan, Basilan, said the evidence is now in the hands of Rear Adm. Emilio Marayag, Naval Forces chief at Armed Forces Western Mindanao-Combined.
Among the evidence were mangled parts of a B-40 rocket launcher, ammunition bandolier, a Garand rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, landmine triggering devices, wires, an automated teller machine card, tiger-fatigue cap with the MILF insignia, and wallet containing documents and the identity of the slain MILF fighter, he added.
Guerrero said the ambush was planned by the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf as decoy to trap the reinforcing troops so they could be slaughtered.
The slain guerrillas and the factions they belonged to were also positively identified by the barangay leaders, he added.
Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga has filed a protest against the MILF and demanded that its leaders in Basilan who are aiding the Abu Sayyaf be dropped from the ranks.
However, the MILF leadership vehemently denied the charges and urged the military to refrain from lumping them together with the Abu Sayyaf as the allegations constitute a violation of the ceasefire.
The slain Abu Sayyaf fighter was identified as Siboy Indama, relative of Ridwan Indama tagged in the Batasan bombing last year.
The war materiel were recovered from the two slain Abu Sayyaf and MILF guerrillas that ambushed the Marines at Barangay Materling, Ungkaya Pukan last May 25.
Seventeen marines were wounded in the attack.
The soldiers belonged to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 that was being replaced for retraining. – Jaime Laude, Roel Pareño