PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Debold Sinas will discuss with Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman the latter's claims against the police with regards to the arrest of alleged Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-leader Hadji Faisal Abdulkarim.
“I think we have to confer sa kanya kasi on our records yun po yun (tao). What is certain (is) may warrant of arrest po yun okay. So the comment of Congressman Hataman is comment po niya yun at hindi ko naman po i-disregard yun. Mag coordinate po kami sa kanya,” he said in a press conference.
“What we are doing is may record po kami, meron pong data na kino collate po ang intelligence group natin at hindi ko rin po puwedeng balewalain yun kasi PNP records po yun. So si Congressman Hataman ay isa lang sa magiging source natin...So siguro kausapin lang namin siya muna kung ano talaga ang reason bakit niya nasabi po yun,” he added.
Sinas made the statement following Hataman's claims that Abdulkarim is not affiliated with the terrorist group and is, in fact, an ally of the government.
Hataman said the allegations of the PNP against Abdulkarim were fabricated.
“Sa ginagawa nyo, parang gusto nyo na naman ata buhayin ang ASG na kung saan halos wala na sila dito sa aming lalawigan (With what you're doing, it seems that you want to revive the ASG in Basilan),” Hataman said.
Abdulkarim was arrested during the service of an arrest warrant against him for the crime of murder and arson in Ungkaya Pukan in Basilan on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
He was tagged in the killing of a barangay chairman in 2014 and the burning of several houses in Barangay Bulo-Bulo, Sumisip, Basilan in 2004.
The PNP said Abdulkarim also harbors wounded ASG fighters from Sulu in his makeshift medical station in Basilan, where arresting operatives found assorted medical supplies.
Sinas said they will also coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding Abdulkarim to further shed light on the matter.
He also recognized Hataman for trying to protect the welfare of his province.
“Kasi they are protecting the name of Basilan hindi ba para mapaganda ‘yung name ng Basilan, but it's not the point whether totoo o hindi. Lahat po yan may mga warrant and before we implement, confirmed and verified yan. Hindi lang dahil mga gusto lang hulihin,” the PNP chief said. (SunStar Philippines)