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Tuesday, August 20, 2002
DOJ vows to keep up with 77 raps v. Sayyaf
JUSTICE officials Monday said state lawyers will continue to pursue the Abu Sayyaf with the 77 cases filed against them, even after the alleged death its leader Aldam Tilao a.k.a. Abu Sabaya.
In his press briefing Perez Monday said the latest batch for indictment are 22 more counts of serious illegal detention with murder against members of the Mindanao-based kidnap for ransom group.
Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said the new cases filed against the Abu Sayyaf are connection with the Sipadan and the Dos Palmas kidnapping.
"The DOJ has filed a total of 77 separate cases against members of the Abu Sayyaf Group and these cases are set either for arraignment, pretrial, initial trial and continuation of trial," Perez said.
Last July 23, the United States Justice Department also indicted five leaders the Abu Sayyaf for a kidnapping spree that led to the death of an American missionary and several others in the Philippines.
The federal indictments identified the five as Khadafi Abubakar Janjalani, spiritual leader of the group; Isnilon Totoni Hapilon, the second in command; Aldam Tilao, spokesman; Jainal Antel Sali Jr., an intelligence officer; and Hamsiraji Marusi Sali, a group leader.
They were indicted in connection with the kidnapping of two American missionaries - Martin and Gracia Burnham- and Guillermo Sobero, who was beheaded on June 11, 2001, among others.
"These are the cases involving the kidnapping in pearl farm, the Schiling kidnapping, the Sipadan incident and the Dos Palmas case and they are now pending in various courts."
Up to 126 Moslem men are presently under government custody under suspicion of being Abu Sayyaf members. Five million pesos have already been handed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to a government informer who allegedly tipped off to Sabaya's alleged attempt seaborne escape.
Sabaya , military brass insists died at sea during a confrontation with pursuing soldiers. His body was never recovered.
Most of the suspected Abu Sayyaf members are detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig after the DOJ obtained permission from the Supreme Court to transfer hearing of the cases against Abu Sayyaf to the Pasig Regional Trial Court citing security reasons.
The Bagong Diwa detainees are facing criminal charges of serious illegal detention charges for the kidnapping of schoolteachers and pupils in Tumahubong Elementary School in Sumisip, Basilan on March 20, 2000.
Two months ago, hostage Martin Burnham was killed in a military rescue mission, along with nurse Ediborah Yap and three of the guerrillas.
Gracia Burnham was rescued alive but wounded with a gunshot in the thigh. |
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