Thursday, August 21, 2008 Kato, 6 other MILF leaders charged
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) filed 60 separate criminal complaints against leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) responsible for the pillage of several villages in North Cotabato early this month.
PNP spokesman Nicanor Bartolome said the complaints include seven counts of murder, nine counts of attempted murder, one count of frustrated murder, 24 counts of arson, and 19 counts of robbery in band.
"The complaints were filed by the joint Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 and CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) investigating team before the office of City Prosecutor Al Calica in Kidapawan City Wednesday and investigations are continuing to gather more evidence that the law enforcement and prosecution will present in court," Bartolome said.
Seven of the MILF leaders were named in the complaints. They are Ameril Umbra Kato, Kasanadel Pigkawalan, Usi Ampatuan, Nayang Timan, Datukalan Montok Samad, Tumalao Butuan, and certain Manampan. Several other unidentified MILF rebels were also charged.
Kato was reportedly injured in an ambush staged by still unidentified men in Shariff Kabunsuan Province Tuesday afternoon.
Major Armand Rico, spokesman for the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, said two of Kato’s men, one of them identified only as Monib, were killed in the ambush in the town of Kabuntalan.
Incidentally, the ambush took place hours before Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno announced a P5 million bounty for Kato’s capture.
“He (Kato) was ambushed by a group of armed men. He was wounded but he was able to escape. That is the report that we got from the civilians. As of now, our troops responded and established blocking points in his possible route of withdrawal,” said Rico.
Last week, a separate complaint for Serious Illegal Detention was filed against seven other MILF sub-leaders for the abduction of two residents of Pigkawayan, North Cotabato.
Bartolome said another team of PNP investigators are documenting all statements, physical evidence and witness' testimonies to build a strong case against Abdullah Saber Macapaar alias Kumander Bravo, Aleem Sulaiman Pangalian alias Kumander Pangalian, and several other MILF personalities.
They are responsible for the attacks on civilians in several towns of Lanao provinces early this week that killed 40 persons and displaced thousands of residents who fled the shooting and arson frenzy by the MILF renegade forces.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has offered a reward of P5 million each for information that would lead to the arrest of Kato and Macapaar.
Bartolome assured that the legal actions against the renegade MILF leaders will not in any way affect the peace negotiations.
"We have a criminal justice system that operates based on the fundamental laws of the land. And violation of these laws are penalized according to the Revised Penal Code," he said.
He emphasized "these laws apply to all, and it is our mandate to enforce the law."
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. asked the MILF leadership to surrender Kato and Macapaar.
“The best thing to do for them is to surrender these people to us so that we can prosecute them,” said Teodoro.
Kato led his forces in the occupation of 15 barangays in North Cotabato where they were subsequently dislodged. Last Monday, Macapaar and his men attacked several towns and a city in Lanao del Norte, leaving 28 civilians, three soldiers and a policeman dead.
“Now whether or not they surrender these people, we are in the process of apprehending them and we will not stop. Whether or not they do that (surrender of the two commanders), law enforcement operations against these people will not stop,” said Teodoro.
At the same time, the defense chief asked the MILF leadership to condemn the actions of Kato and Macapaar, saying their frustrations over the progress on the ongoing peace process with the government do not justify the conduct of atrocities against the civilians.
“There must be a positive statement from them (MILF leadership) totally condemning and not countenancing these attacks,” he also said, adding that the actions of Kato and Macapaar “could qualify as a terrorist act.”
On whether their acts can be charged with terrorism under the Human Security Act, Teodoro said: “As we stated earlier, the use of the Human Security Act is a different legal proceeding and a separate legal proceeding in itself.”
“Right now, we are busy collating evidence for common criminal crimes and we don’t want to divert attention by special procedures under the Human Security Act in order to make a case out of terrorism. After, perhaps, we file the criminal cases,” he said. (VR/Sunnex)
