‘Janjalani in Metro only to go malling’

He was jailed for simply malling in Metro Manila.

This was how the lawyer of suspected Abu Sayyaf field commander Hector Janjalani described the fate that befell his client in an interview following a pre-trial at the Manila Regional Trial Court yesterday.

"According to him, he was just going to the mall when he was arrested, and that the drugs seized from him were just planted," said lawyer Fidel Macauyag, who was hired by the suspect’s relatives in Zamboanga the other day.

Janjalani and a companion were arrested at a shopping mall in Ermita, Manila last December while allegedly trying to sell a video tape of American hostage Jeffrey Schilling to local and foreign television networks.

Police seized from Janjalani more than 200 grams of shabu while his companion, identified as Al Shieb Albanai, allegedly had a hand grenade inside his bag.

A case of possession of illegal drugs against Janjalani is pending before Branch 2 of the Manila RTC, concurrently presided over by Judge Leonardo Reyes of Branch 31.

His lawyer insisted that his client committed no crime.

"He just came from the Golden Mosque when he was accosted by authorities," Macauyag said.

It doesn’t help, however, that the suspect is the brother of slain Abu Sayyaf founder Abdurajak Janjalani and notorious chieftain Khadaffi Janjalani.

The suspect has also been charged in connection with the kidnapping of 21 mostly foreign tourists from a Malaysian resort in Sipadan island off Sabah on Easter Sunday last year. The military said Janjalani used the alias Abu Escobar and was a field commander of the extremist group.

However, the suspect maintained his innocence, saying he is not afraid to face all charges hurled at him.

"I am not a member of the Abu Sayyaf," he said. "Just because my brothers are part of the group, it doesn’t mean that I am involved in their activities."

Janjalani, wearing a white shirt, jeans and slippers, stayed no longer than 20 minutes at the Manila RTC building annex in Port Area, Manila.

About two dozen jail guards and a support team of SWAT personnel escorted Janjalani and secured the building during the pre-trial.

The next hearing was set for Sept. 11 and 13.

When asked about the chances of his client’s acquittal, his lawyer said: "Let’s hope the truth will come out in this trial."