Sadain favors hearing of cases vs MNLF

Sadain favors hearing of cases vs MNLF

in 9/9 attacks vs Zamboanga in Taguig

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS) – City Councilor  Melchor “Mel” Sadain yesterday said that it would be better  that the entire court proceedings against the some 274 members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) involved in the 21-day war in September be   done in Metro Manila.

These  274 MNLF were charged for rebellion, serious illegal detention and murder  during the Zamboanga Siege last September 9, 2013 .

Sadain said that it is better that the trial of the cases be done in Metro Manila because the 274 MNLFs  accused are already there  in Taguig City.

The witnesses in this cases from Zamboanga can just be brought to Manila with no security risks involved in their travels.

Sadain said that in as far as expenses for the witnesses are concerned the national government has to provide for it  just like in the Ampatuan case where the government appropriated P25 million  of the expenses of the witnesses.

Sadain  while the city government is doing every possible solution  on the Supreme Court En Banc Resolution ,  the doubts  of apprehension from the people can not be avoided.

“We appeal to the people . The City government  is doing  everything to see to it the safety of the people, “ Sadain said.

Sadain added that the City Legal Officer is now  studying  the necessary motion  to appeal to  the Supreme Court  regarding this resolution.

Last Aug 5, 2014, the Supreme Court sitting en banc issued a Resolution which reads as follows: “A.M. No. 13-10-223-RTC (Re: Request for Transfer of Venue of Cases against Suspected Moro National Liberation Front [MNLF] Rebels in the Attempt to Take Over Zamboanga City). – The Court Resolved to NOTE the Memorandum dated July 17, 2014 of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) and APPROVE OCA’s recommendation that the reception of the testimony/testimonies for the prosecution and their witnesses as well as the testimony/testimonies of the witnesses for the accused in Criminal Case Nos. 28212 and 28213 (now Criminal Case Nos.152737-TG to 152739-TG), all entitled ‘People of the Philippines vs. Chairperson Narulaji P. Misuari, a.k.a. Nur Misuari, et al.,’ be conducted by Executive Judge Gregorio V. Dela Peña III, RTC, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur under the following guidelines:
(1)After the arraignment and pre-trial to be conducted inside the premises of Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, Judge Rowena M. San Pedro, Branch 158, RTC, Pasig City, shall cause the transmittal of the case records to Executive Judge Dela Peña III or his successor;
(2)Within three (3) days from receipt of the records, Executive Judge Dela Peña III shall immediately calendar the cases for the reception of evidence for the prosecution and their witnesses who are residing in Zamboanga City and in the nearby provinces;
(3)When it is the turn of the inmate/accused to testify, or whenever their presence at the trial is deemed indispensable, Executive Judge Dela Peña III shall against cause the transmittal of the case records to Judge San Pedro, Branch 158, RTC, Pasig City;
(4)After the reception of the testimony of inmate/accused, Judge San Pedro shall cause the return of the case records to Executive Judge Dela Peña III for the reception of evidence for the witnesses of the accused who are in Zamboanga City and in the nearby provinces; and

(5)Thereafter, the case records shall be forwarded to the sala of Judge San Pedro for the continuation of trial, decision-making, and promulgation of judgment.”   (Letty M. Militante )  (090614)