Cotabato kidnap suspect cleared of charges

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The Cotabato regional trial court (RTC) dismissed on Friday the kidnapping cases filed against Datukan Samad, also known as “Commander Lastikman” after his victims failed to attend hearings for security reasons.

“This Lastikman is very notorious and was involved along with his men in multiple murders and frustrated murders. It could be for his criminal records that his victims ended declining summons for them to stand in court against him,” said Senior Inspector Elias Dandan, chief of the municipal police in Pikit, North Cotabato.

At least three persons were killed while more than a dozen others were injured when Samad’s cohorts tried to rescue him from the Kidapawan City Jail last Feb. 19.

Samad, an ethnic Maguindanaon from Pikit, was implicated in more than 20 murder cases and more than a dozen highway robberies and cattle rustlings.

Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas, director of the North Cotabato provincial police, said they are not blaming the Midsayap RTC for the dismissal of the kidnapping charges against Samad.

“Courts operate based on the principle of due process. We are optimistic, however, that pretty soon we can find new witnesses to testify on his involvement in kidnappings,” Salinas said.

Among the kidnappings allegedly perpetrated by Samad and his men was that of a German national and his Filipino wife in Barangay Batulawan in Pikit five years ago.

The couple was released through the intercession of local commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the joint government-MILF ceasefire committee.

Salinas said Samad will remain in jail for robbery and multiple murder cases. “He will still be subject to litigation for other criminal cases,” he said.