Trial of Abu Sayyaf suspects to Taguig

After receiving opposition from residents in Cebu and Zamboanga Cities, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered yesterday the transfer of the trial of alleged Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members from Cebu to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

The 15 justices said the case should be presided over by a Pasig City judge who will hold the trial in the well-secured military camp, where a "provisional courtroom, chambers of the judge and clerk of court" will be built.

"The venue of said cases is hereby transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa of the Philippine National Police located in Taguig, Metro Manila," the Court ,en banc , stated in a three-page resolution.

Among the reasons why Taguig was chosen over Clark Air Field and Corregidor were that it has "adequate facilities" for the ASG’s detention, and that it is "well-secured and the safety and security of all concerned are assured."

"The DOJ and PNP shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to ensure the safety and security of the witnesses and of all those taking part in the trial of the cases," the SC said.

PNP chief Director General Leandro Mendoza and the commanding officer of Camp Bagong Diwa were reminded by the Supreme Court to make sure that all the parties are "under maximum security."

Zamboanga City Judge Jesus Carbon was directed to forward the records of the 11 cases — ranging from kidnap-for-ransom, arbitrary detention and illegal possession of firearms – to the executive judge in Pasig City, who will raffle it off among the judges.

The judge to whom the ASG cases will be assigned, the Supreme Court reiterated, should "conduct continuous hearings thereon in Camp Bagong Diwa until the cases are finally decided. The trial judge shall be assisted by the regular personnel of his court."

Supreme Court justices, police officials, including Cebu officials, met on Aug. 13 to discuss ways of dealing with the problem of where to try the cases of the ASG.

Among the reasons for transferring the trial from Cebu to someplace else was the fact that it might create the impression that the ASG operates in Cebu and that this may scare away investors, not to mention ruin the tourism industry there.

Among those who attended were Perez, Lina, Cebu Governor Pablo Garcia, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, retired General Edgardo Batenga (who represented DND chief Angelo Reyes), Mendoza and PNP Region 7 director Avelino Razon.

Local officials opposed the High Court’s first ruling which transferred the trial venue of the ASG members from Basilan to Zamboanga, saying it would affect peace and order there.

On July 26, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the cases from Zamboanga City to Cebu City, saying that arraignment and trial of the Muslim extremists should likewise be held there.