Sulu guv mum on bomb suspect cases

SULU Governor Abdulsakur Tan opted to keep mum on the cases he filed against bomb suspect Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie pending court resolution.

"Let us not discuss on the case because it was already filed before the court. My lawyers are attending to it," Tan told reporters during the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) Convention on Good Governance held last week.

Tan said he has nothing against Tulawie as the latter’s father is his friend, adding he filed a case against the accused after the witnesses pointed their fingers against Tulawie.

The governor also refused to comment when asked if the filing of cases against Tulawie was politically driven.

To recall, Tan filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) requesting the transfer of the case filed against human rights advocate Tulawie from Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Davao City to any RTC in Metro Manila.

Tan asked the SC to bring the legal war to a neutral ground in Metro Manila, where neither of the parties has a clear advantage and the parties are free from any threat and influence during the trial.

RTC Branch 11 Judge Virginia Europa ordered to suspend the proceedings of the case pending the resolution on the petition filed by Tan.

On the other hand, prosecutor Marte Velasco, in an earlier interview, said the DOJ has granted him an "implied authority" to handle the multiple frustrated murder and attempted murder and illegal possession of explosives charges filed against Tulawie.

This after Velasco asked the DOJ to allow him to prosecute the accused since the evidences are still with a fiscal at the RTC Sulu.

Tulawie, a suspect in the May 2009 bombing in Patikul, Sulu, has been charged with multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder, and a violation of Section 3, in relation to Section 3-C of Presidential Decree 1866, as amended by Republic Act 9516, or illegal possession of explosives used in the commission of crimes.