GenSan ‘bomber’ wants to be a witness vs Sayyaf

A suspect in the spate of bombings in General Santos City expressed willingness yesterday to help the government put Abu Sayyaf members behind bars by offering himself as a witness.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said suspect Noor Mohammad Umog, whom he presented to the media yesterday, has, indeed, applied to be under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).

But Perez clarified that they have yet to evaluate his testimony, saying he can be "a witness in all cases, except the General Santos bombing" last April which left 16 people dead and 60 others injured.

In the meantime, he said his department is providing security to 37-year-old Umog because of threats to his life and his family’s.

"All I can give him now is physical protection. We cannot promise anything. At this point, we are not giving him any assurance of immunity. The courts will determine the propriety of his discharge," Perez said.

He said it will be difficult for Umog to be utilized as a witness in the April bombing in General Santos because he was allegedly one of its perpetrators.

"He may not qualify (as witness in that particular case) because of the degree of his participation," Perez said.

Umog, alias Abu Hamdi and Abu Muslim Al Ghazie, was also implicated in the bombings of shopping malls in General Santos.

"I wanted the truth to come out because I believe the truth shall set me free," Umog told reporters. He was presented to the media without handcuffs but was tightly guarded by WPP security personnel.

In his letter to the WPP, Umog said he was willing to testify against the Abu Sayyaf, but denied having masterminded any criminal act nor occupying a "top post" in the extremist Muslim group.

Describing himself as a "victim of circumstances," Umog said he decided to surface and offer his testimony when he heard that the prosecution’s evidence against him is weak and because of threats to his life.

"Although I am not a top caliber member of the (Abu Sayyaf), I (have) personal knowledge of matters which will be very valuable to the state. I believe I can help strengthen the government’s position," he said in his letter.