Sayyaf trial no longer in Cebu City

Cebu City residents can now heave a big sigh of relief after the Supreme Court agreed yesterday not to hold the trial of the Abu Sayyaf members in the Queen City of the South.

The High Court will decide either today or tomorrow on the trial’s new venue from three choices: Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig; Clark Field in Pampanga; and Corregidor in Bataan.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, however, said Camp Bagong Diwa is the most feasible venue, explaining that the trial might scare away Clark investors and that there is only a small police force in Corregidor, thus the need to field more uniformed personnel there.

The Supreme Court justices arrived at the decision yesterday after meeting with police, military, government and Cebu officials.

The tribunal earlier transferred the trial of the Abu Sayyaf members for charges of kidnapping for ransom, arbitrary detention and illegal possession of firearms, from Zamboanga City to Cebu City. This, however, raised a public outcry among Cebuanos.

In yesterday’s meeting, the officials present argued that holding the trial in Cebu City might create the "misimpression" that the Abu Sayyaf is operating there, as well as scare away investors and ruin Cebu’s thriving tourism industry.

Holding the trial at Camp Bagong Diwa, Perez said, will not pose any problems because the Muslim community at the nearby Maharlika Village "is very supportive of the administration."

Perez said that under a "compromise proposal," a Basilan judge will come over for the presentation of evidence, and the trial will be transferred to Basilan when the accused present their defense.

Among those who attended yesterday’s meeting were Perez, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, retired Gen. Edgardo Batenga (who represented Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes), Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza and PNP-Region 7 director Avelino Razon.