Saturday, August 11, 2007
Justice office to study formal statement of suspect in Marines ambush (10:19 a.m.)
MANILA -- Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. said the panel of prosecutors will first evaluate the sworn testimony of self-confessed Abu Sayaff member Jon Jamiri alias Buhari who was involved in the July 10 ambush of a Philippine Marines troop in Basilan, that resulted in the death of its 14 personnel, 10 of whom were beheaded.
Jamiri, who surrendered to joint operatives of the Philippine Navy (PN), Military Intelligence Group Region 9 (MIG-9) and the NBI-National Capital Region in
Lamitan, Basilan, offered to turn state witness, saying he was not among those who beheaded the beheaded the soldiers.
But Gonzalez said Jamiri, 34, a resident of Barangay Bohe Bessey, Tuburan, Basilan, will still have to be charged for murder before he could be discharged to be a government witness.
"He has to undergo tactical investigation. He is a very valuable person because he is a self-confessed member of the Abu Sayyaf which ambushed the Marines, but his testimony has to be evaluated," said Gonzalez.
He said that it would work in Jamiri's favor if it was true that he was not among those involved in the beheading of 10 Marines. However, Jamiri would would still be liable for the charge of multiple murder considering his admission that he was part of the team that ambushed the soldiers.
NBI-National Capital Region (NCR) Director lawyer Ruel Lasala said Jamiri's surrender was facilitated by GMA Channel 7 reporter Jiggy Manicad who met him last Wednesday in Barangay Lagayas, Tipo-tipo, Basilan. From Zamboanga, Jamiri was brought to Manila at 9 p.m. and brought to the NBI main office on Taft Avenue, Manila.
Lasala said Jamiri will remain under the custody of the NBI-NCR unless a court order is issued for his transfer to another detention cell. (ECV/Sunnex) |
