Pinoy terror suspect in Sabah claims he was paid

MANILA, Philippines - One of the eight Filipinos charged with terrorism in Sabah admitted yesterday having been paid to join the followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, according to Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama.

Hooland Kalbi made the admission in the Badjao dialect before judge P. Ravinthran, Bernama said. But the judge told the court interpreter to tell the accused to stop speaking as his words would only be recorded after he had obtained a lawyer.

Another Filipino Timhar Hadir told the court that he entered Malaysia last February using an international passport. He was also prevented from saying more by Ravinthran without consulting his lawyer.

Another accused charged with the same offense was Habil Suhaili, believed to be in his 60s, Bernama said.  The report said it took the accused quite sometime to understand the charge made against him. The charge was read to him several times in Suluk.

The report said Habil did not commit the offense, but was also told by the judge that his plea would not be recorded.

The first accused, Atik Hussein Abu Bakar, who spoke also in Badjao, asked the court to explain the charges against him.

The other four accused – Lin Mad Salleh, Basad Manuel, Kadir Uyung and Lating Tiong – said they had nothing to say.

Atik Hussein and Basad are being charged with engaging in terrorism and waging war against the Malaysian king. They face the death penalty.

Lin is charged with engaging in terrorism, while Kadir and Lating are charged with protecting the terrorist group.

The accused were not granted bail.

The hearing on the case is set for April 12 with Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail vowing to ensure that all eight accused would have legal representation by then, Malaysia’s Star Online report said.

Legal aid

As Kuala Lumpur continues to deny access to Filipinos detained in connection with the violence in Sabah, President Aquino vowed legal assistance yesterday to the eight accused.

“The legal assistance we have been giving is automatic, regardless of what case our fellow Filipino is facing abroad, and it doesn’t matter whether we believe in their cause or not,” Aquino told Palace reporters in a chance interview in Naga City where he met local leaders and led in the groundbreaking for a monument to the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“But we have an obligation to protect our rights, and of course the agency that is focused on that issue is the Department of Foreign Affairs, assisted by the Department of Justice,” Aquino added.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has instructed the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur to find out the identities and condition of the Filipinos.

“Upon the Secretary of Foreign Affairs’ instruction, the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur is working on its access to the reported eight Filipinos charged with terrorism in Sabah to find out their identities, their personal condition and the charges filed,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said yesterday.

He also said the Malaysian government has not acted yet on the Philippines’ request for full access to the Kiram followers detained in Malaysia.

In hiding

In Basilan, many evacuees from Sabah have refused to come out for fear of being criminally charged along with followers of the sultanate, officials said.

Basilan provincial administrator Tahira Ismael told journalists that only 113 of the estimated 400 returnees have so far availed of assistance being offered by the national and local governments.

She said the evacuees in hiding are afraid they might suffer the same fate as the 38 members of the “royal sultanate force” intercepted, detained and charged in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Charged with inciting to war, illegal possession of firearms and violation of the election gun ban, the 38 followers of Kiram are now detained at a Philippine Navy station in Batu-Batu, Panglima Sugala town in Tawi-Tawi.

A P6.2-million bail has been recommended for the temporary release of the accused.

Meanwhile, Tawi-Tawi provincial police director Senior Superintendent Joselito Salido said the situation in the area has normalized.

But Tawi-Tawi provincial board member Algarad Lipae said many in the province have not reported for work or gone back to their usual business for fear of being implicated in the Sabah incursion.

“Because of what is happening, it is not only Tawi-Tawi but the Sabah economy is heavily affected,” Lipae said.

US hands off on Sabah

The United States embassy has distanced itself from the Sabah crisis, optimistic that the Philippines and Malaysia could resolve the issue.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. told defense reporters yesterday that they do not view the Sabah issue as a security matter that could affect the US.

“This is not something we are involved in and we do not seek to be involved in any way,” Thomas said.

“We would never interfere in the sovereign rights of the Philippine government or try to tell President Aquino or Prime Minister Najib (Razak) how to resolve this challenge,” he said.

Security beefed up

At the Kiram residence in Maharlika Village in Taguig City, security has been beefed up in the wake of reports that a hit squad from Malaysia has arrived to assassinate the sultan.

Aside from installing closed circuit television cameras around the sultan’s residence, Kiram’s men said they would also be issuing identification cards to members of the media covering the sultan and his family.

“We’re no longer expecting the Philippine government to protect us and it seems this Malaysian death squad is freely roaming Metro Manila now,” sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said.

“If something happens to any member of the sultanate and its supporters in the Philippines due to assassination, liquidation and other terroristic act, then there is no one to blame but you Mr. President,” he added.

He earlier claimed receiving information that a hit squad from Malaysia led by a certain Col. Sunny Ng had arrived in Manila.

“They have not made any investigation and yet they already have a conclusion that this assassination plot is not true. We do not want such irresponsible statement from a supposedly respectable spokesperson of Malacañang,” Idjirani said, referring to Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda. – With Jaime Laude, Mike Frialde, Alexis Romero, Edith Regalado, Marvin Sy