Shariah lawyer files writ of amparo against MILF officials for harassment

A Shariah Court lawyer Monday filed a petition for the issuance of a writ of amparo and a protection order before the Supreme Court against officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front whom he had accused of harassing him and his client.

Named as respondents in the petition were MILF chair Ebrahim Murad, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu, Abdulrahman Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo; Aleem Abo Hanif Salindawan, chairman of the MILF Ad-Hoc Shariah; Abdul Pangandag, Amer Debarosan alias Alan Bangcola; Nasser Abbas, and Jamel Mangandang, barangay captain of Bito, Marawi City.

In his 10-page petition, lawyer Abdallah Casar asked that the court grant him a protection order and the writ of amparo following the kidnapping of his client, Disomangcop Polayagan at about 7 a.m. on May 24, 2007 in Marawi City by three armed unidentified members of the MILF with Debarosan and Abdullah Pangandag, brother of Abdul, as lookouts.

Casar said he was the lawyer of Polayagan for a land dispute case which was decided in favor of his client by the Shariah District Court of Marawi City. According to Casar, prior to the kidnapping, the respondents in the decided case, Abdul, Abbas and Debarosan, who is allegedly a member of the MILF, then filed for a reversal of the case with the MILF Ad-Hoc Shariah Committee. The MILF Ad-Hoc Committee then summoned Polayagan to appear.

Casar advised Polayagan not to appear as the case had already been decided by the Shariah District Court.

With his client’s non appearance in the MILF Ad-Hoc Committee, the MILF decided the case in favor of Abdul and at the same time, issued an arrest warrant against Polayagan who is not even a member of the MILF.  

Casar said the MILF detained his client at the MILF detention center in Nusa Island, Wato, Lanao del Sur. He was released at 5 p.m. that same day after he promised the MILF that he would return on May 30, 2007.

After the release, Casar said his client then filed a kidnapping case before the Marawi City Prosecutor’s Office and sought his assistance. After they had filed the case, they received information that the MILF will again kidnap Polayagan if he does not return to the MILF camp.

Polayagan returned to the MILF camp with his five sons and were met by MILF members with high-powered guns. Casar said his client was again detained by the MILF and was told that his client and his sons will remain in detention unless the kidnapping case filed against the MILF filed at the Office of the Marawi City Prosecutor’s Office is dropped and he accepts the June 8, 2007 decision of the MILF Shariah Court.

Casar said his client was later compelled by the MILF to sign the decision of the MILF Shariah Committee, pay for his board and lodging, and together with his sons, sign another affidavit dropping the kidnapping case he had filed. Casar said that after they were released, Polayagan and his sons signed another affidavit withdrawing their signatures in the decision of the MILF Shariah Committee.