Sulu bomb suspect awaits transfer of case

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

DAVAO CITY – One of the suspects in the May 2009 bombing in Patikul, Sulu, who was arrested last Saturday, insisted he wants his case be transferred from Sulu to Davao City.

Temogen Sahipa Tulawie, who was implicated in the bombing incident in Patikul, Sulu on May 13, 2009, wounding 12 people, including Governor Abdusakur Tan of Sulu, appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) to push through on its order to transfer his case in this city.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

The SC released on June 13, 2011 an order to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 3 in Jolo, Sulu, to transfer Tulawie’s records to RTC Davao City, but until now the court in Sulu has not responded to the order and instead issued a warrant of arrest against the suspect, said Carlo Cleofe, Peace Talks Advocacy officer of Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC).

Tulawie, alias Cocoy, 40, a resident of Scott Road, Jolo in Sulu, was arrested inside his rented house at Elenita Heights, Catalunan Grande in Davao City around 1 a.m. on Saturday.

Authorities raided the bombing suspect’s house by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Leo Jay T. Principe of the Regional Trial Court branch 3 in Jolo, Sulu.

Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, secretary-general of the MPC and lawyer of Tulawie, said Governor Tan has also filed a motion for reconsideration to detain Tulawie in Sulu.

"Sana lang hindi ma-grant kasi malaki talaga ang tiwala namin sa gobyerno ng Davao City. Nakakasiguro kami na safe si Tulawie dito at magiging fair ‘yung takbo ng justice dito sa kanya," Arnado said.

Tulawie has a better chance at justice and is safer in this city than in Sulu, his wife Mussah Sherian Tulawie said Monday.

Mrs. Tulawie said her family decided to move out because they kept receiving several threats after being implicated in the bombing.

She added that their family is thankful to the government, authorities, and media in Davao City for the assurance that Tulawie is safe here.

"Ngayon ko lang naramdaman na may mga tao pang nakikinig sa amin. Iba ‘yung pakiramdam na pinapakinggan din kami, ‘yung bang fair ‘yung trato ng mga tao dito. Kasi sa Sulu, wala ng nakikinig sa amin. Lahat ng nilalabas nila negatibo, nahuhusgahan na kaagad kami," Mrs. Tulawie said.

Outside the Hall of Justice, a small group of protesters called for the release of the arrested bombing suspect.

Around 20 members and supporters of MPC, Freedom from Debt Coalition-Davao Chapter, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines and Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya staged their protest in front of the Hall of Justice in Davao City, to show their support for Tulawie’s quest for justice.

The group believes that Tulawie was falsely accused by Governor Tan for personal reasons.

"Gusto niya patahimikin si Cocoy sa Sulu dahil alam niya na ang akusado lang ang may kakayahan mag-organize ng human rights group para question-in ‘yung policies ng governor na nakapaglalabag ng karapatang pang-tao," Cleofe said.

Cleofe said one of the policies of Tan that Tulawie barred was the institutionalization of the Identification System in which all residents should have an ID indicated with their religion.

Tulawie is facing charges of Presidential Decree 1866, otherwise known as illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, grenade, and others; multiple frustrated murder; and attempted murder before RTC branch 3. The charges were filed on July 22, 2009.

Tulawie is detained at the Davao City Police Office’s Intelligence and Detection Management Branch jail facility.

Tulawie said he is always ready to face the charges filed against him.

"Wala sa isip ko ang magtago. Nakahanda naman akong harapin ‘yung kaso laban sa akin. Ang di ko lang nagustuhan ay kung bakit pinagkakait pa nila (Sulu) ‘yung gusto ko na dito na sa Davao ipagpatuloy ang kaso ko," Tulawie said.

Tulawie is the provincial chair of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, a coalition of Bangsamoro civil organizations based in Sulu.

He was active in setting up a local organization named Bawhug (Serve, Respect and Protect) that was established to defend the rights of Muslim communities affected by military operations in Sulu.

In 2004, he was elected as municipal councilor of the capital town of Jolo, and was one of the organizers of the Concerned Citizens of Sulu. (Sunnex)