Thursday, November 09, 2006
Gov't junks raps v. MILF chief for Mindanao bombings
MANILA -- Government on Wednesday dropped criminal charges against Al Haj Murad, leader of the secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in connection with the spate of blasts in Central Mindanao early last month.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. said he recommended Murad's removal from the list of respondents since there was no direct evidence linking him to the three simultaneous explosions that killed at least seven people.
"That is my recommendation, because there is no direct evidence against him (Murad). His name was mentioned in the complaint as part of the group that planned the bombing in Cotabato. But when I went over the affidavit, these were mere hearsays," he told reporters.
Murad was charged with murder and multiple frustrated murders in connection with the October 10 bombing in Tacurong public market in Sultan Kudarat at 4 p.m. A second blast occurred at 7:45 p.m. of the same day in front of the town hall of Makilala town in North Cotabato while the third explosion happened at 11:30 a.m. on October 11 in front of the South Seas Mall in Magallanes, Cotabato City.
Aside from Murad, the other respondents included international terror group Jemaah Islamiya members Dulmatin and Omar Patek, who are believed to be operating in Jolo, Sulu.
Gonzalez said he has already directed the prosecutors handling the case to withdraw the charges against Murad, but added that this has nothing to do with back-channeling efforts of government to resume peace talks with the MILF.
"Even without the peace talks, the case will still be dropped against Murad," he said.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu was earlier quoted as saying that the dropping of the charges against Murad was part of confidence-building measures before the Muslim group and the government panel could resume talks.
In defending Murad, Kabalu said the MILF has always held that civilians are not legitimate military targets.
Investigators believed that the bombings were most likely perpetuated by the JI or their comrades in the Abu Sayyaf in retaliation for the recent arrest in Patikul, Sulu of Dulmatin's wife, Istiada Oemar Sovie.
Dulmatin and Patek are the principal suspects in the 2002 bombing of a resort in Bali, Indonesia that killed more than 200 people, mostly Australian tourists. A US$1 million reward was being offered by the US Government for the capture of each of the two terrorists. (ECV/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (November 9, 2006 issue)
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