Police asked to present JI man's wife in pre-trial on Feb. 14

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to present the wife of a suspected member of the terrorist group Jamaal Islamiyah before the court next month.

The accused, identified as Annabelle Nieva Lee, hails from Sorsogon in Bicol Region, and was arrested last December 14 after her husband, Mohd Noor Fikrie Bin Abd Kahar, was shot dead by authorities on Camus st.

Lawyer Ray Uson Velasco, clerk of RTC Branch 14, asked DCPO chief Ronald dela M. Rosa, through a subpoena dated January 17, to also appear before the court on February 14.

Dela Rosa, for his part, vowed to appear and present the accused before the court as scheduled. He said they stand by their conviction that the seized evidences against Lee were hers and her husband.

Lawyer Ben Joseph Tesiorna, legal counsel of the accused, earlier assured that his client will be available during court proceedings on the date scheduled, especially that Lee pleaded not guilty during her arraignment on January 11.

The accused was earlier charged for violation of the Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 9516 or The Illegal Possession of Firearms, Ammunition, or Explosive.

The prosecution found probable cause to charge Lee based on the evidences presented by the authorities.

Lee is presently detained at the Naval Intelligence and Security Group jail facility, after Judge George E. Omelio of the RTC Branch 14 granted the petition for her transfer from DCPO during her arraignment. (ICT)