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Saturday, December 30, 2006
Indon, Pinoy rebels charged with murder in terror attack
MANILA -- A government prosecutor filed murder charges Friday against two top Indonesian terror suspects and 23 Filipino Muslim guerrillas for their alleged involvement in a bomb attack that killed eight people during a town festival on October 10.
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Prosecutor Al Calica said he found strong evidence that Indonesians Dulmatin, who goes by one name, and Umar Patek helped at least 23 Filipino rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to launch the attack, which also wounded 28 people in southern Makilala town.
"The message is that if people commit a crime, especially these bombings, they cannot get away with it," Calica said.
If found guilty by a local court, the suspects, who are all at large, could face a maximum 40-year prison term. The death penalty was abolished in the Philippines in June.
Dulmatin and Patek, who are believed to be hiding in the southern Mindanao region, have been blamed for some of Southeast Asia's worst terrorist attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.
They are believed to have fled after the Bali attacks to Mindanao, where they reportedly took refuge in Filipino Muslim guerrilla strongholds, organized terrorist training and continued to plot attacks.
The Oct. 10 attack was among three bombings in central Mindanao in October that police say were planned by the Indonesians, believed to belong to the al-Qaida-linked Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah, along with MILF commanders.
Police initially included MILF chairman Al Haj Murad in the charge sheet but Calica removed him from the complaint due to a lack of evidence. The MILF also threatened to withdraw from Malaysian-brokered peace talks with Manila if Murad was not dropped from the list of suspects.
At least one MILF rebel allegedly involved in planning the bombings has surrendered and implicated the Indonesians and guerrillas in the attacks, Calica said. He may later testify, he said.
The MILF has denied involvement in the attacks.
Calica said the same suspects were also charged Friday before another court for a bomb attack that wounded four people in a crowded public market in southern Tacurong city on October 10. Another bomb exploded in southern Cotabato city on October 11 but did not cause injuries.
Military officials believe the attacks may have been an attempt by the militants to divert the military's focus from a months-long US-backed offensive against Abu Sayyaf extremist rebels said to be sheltering Dulmatin and Patek on southern Jolo island.
They also could be in retaliation for the recent capture on Jolo of Dulmatin's wife, the military said. The wife and two sons of Dulmatin, an alleged electronics specialist who trained in al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan, have been deported to Indonesia. (AP)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (December 30, 2006 issue)
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