‘Sympathy attacks’ by Nur’s men feared

Soldiers in Mindanao are keenly watching hard-core followers of rebel leader Nur Misuari who might stage "sympathy attacks" to derail his trial for rebellion.

Meanwhile, 11 Muslim rebels sympathetic to Misuari were reported killed in a clash yesterday afternoon with Army Scout Rangers in Jolo, Sulu. Four soldiers were reported wounded.

Misuari and seven of his closest aides were flown back to the Philippines on Monday after six weeks of detention in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia following their Nov. 24 arrest in Sabah state for illegal entry.

Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the situation in the ARMM remained "normal and stable" but the military did not rule out the possibility that fanatic Misuari followers would create trouble.

Adan said followers of the 60-year-old Misuari "could engage in some violent protest activities."

"These groups are being monitored... our intelligence units are on top of the situation. They are being watched," Adan said.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said government lawyers will file a petition with the Supreme Court seeking permission to hold the trial away from Misuari’s home province of Sulu where prosecution witnesses could be harassed and intimidated by his followers.

"We can pay for the transportation of the witnesses. We will ask the Supreme Court to have the trial done inside Fort Sto. Domingo," Perez said.

Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, commander of the AFP’s Southern Command (Southcom) based in Zamboanga City, said Misuari’s followers were forging a tactical alliance with Abu Sayyaf terrorists to avenge their leader’s detention.

The encounter between elements of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion and Misuari’s followers took place in Sitio Tubig Samin located in the boundaries of Maimbung, Indanan and Parang towns in Sulu.

The retreating rebels left behind some high-powered firearms which were retrieved by the troops.

Cimatu said Abu Sayyaf leaders Radulan Sahiron and Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, were believed to be with the rebel group.

Southcom spokesman Army Capt. Noel Detoyato said additional Marine troops were deployed in known Misuari strongholds in Sulu to prevent "sympathy attacks" by his die-hard followers.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, for his part, said government lawyers will file a petition with the Supreme Court seeking permission to hold the trial away from Misuari’s home province of Sulu where prosecution witnesses could be harassed and intimidated by his followers.

"We can pay for the transportation of the witnesses. We will ask the Supreme Court to have the trial done inside Fort Sto. Domingo," Perez said.

Immediately upon arrival aboard a military C-130 cargo plane at the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City in Batangas, Misuari and his spiritual adviser identified as Abu Harris Usman, were immediately flown by a military helicopter to the heavily secured Fort Sto. Domingo, a police training camp in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The two were confined in a bungalow-type cell originally meant for jailed former President Joseph Estrada who was facing a string of corruption cases including the capital offense of plunder. Estrada, who was unseated in Jan. 20 last year, was transferred to the government-run Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. said Misuari has been granted liberal visitation rights, but is prohibited from giving media interviews.

He said the camp is on high alert.

A military jeep with a mounted machine gun patrolled the camp premises while at least five heavily armed members of the police Special Action Force guarded the main entrance to the detention center.

A few days before the scheduled ARMM elections in November meant to choose his successor, Misuari led a botched uprising marked by attacks on military outposts in Jolo and nearby Zamboanga City in what was seen as an attempt to hold on to power.

Accompanied by a handful of his close-in security, Misuari fled to Malaysia and was apprehended in Sabah for illegal entry.

Two days after his capture in Sabah, some 100 members of the so-called Misuari Misuari Renegade Group (MRG) led his nephew Julhambri Misuari seized the government-owned Cabatangan complex in Zamboanga City and rounded up some 100 civilian hostages.

The hostages were later freed in exchange for safe passage to an MNLF camp.

Misuari’s successor, newly installed ARMM Gov. Parouk Hussin, was trying to convince MNLF holdouts to lay down their arms and adhere to the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the MNLF.

Hours after Misuari’s arrival from Malaysia, a military patrol chanced upon armed men believed to be members of the MRG, resulting in a brief firefight in Indanan town in Sulu.

No casualty was reported on both sides as the rebels immediately withdrew.

MNLF holdouts sneak into Metro Manila

Intelligence agents are also tracking down at least 10 members of the so-called Mutallah Force, an elite fighting unit of Misuari, former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). They have reportedly slipped into Manila.

A former Misuari follower revealed that the Mutallah fighters left Zamboanga City on Monday for Metro Manila after learning of their leader’s deportation from Malaysia.

The informant, who asked not to be identified, could not tell the real purpose of the trip, although the military held it significant in the light of earlier reports that Misuari fanatics could cause trouble.

For its part, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it would not interfere in the trial of Misuari.

"We would not meddle with his being behind bars. There is nothing we can do about it. Let the (judicial) process go on. He has to face the music," said MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu.

He said the most that the MILF did for Misuari was when its chairman Hashim Salamat asked the Organization of Islamic Conference to take Misuari into its custody.

With Misuari’s deportation, there is nothing that the MILF can do, Kabalu said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the repatriation of Misuari was a big boost to the peace and order campaign in Mindanao.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Cresencio Maralit said the deportation will serve as a deterrent to any Muslim rebel leader pushing his political agenda.

"Misuari’s repatriation will be a lesson that they cannot just commit a crime in Mindanao then seek refuge in any ASEAN country without being caught," Maralit said.

In another development, Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri urged the government to treat Misuari properly.

"Misuari should be accorded all the rights due a person facing trial," Zubiri said.

He also called on Misuari’s followers not to have the mistaken notion that their leader was being persecuted.

"If we treat him badly, he may end up as a poster boy for Muslim radicalism," Zubiri said.

Another Mindanao lawmaker, Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, proposed that Misuari be exiled if the law would allow it.

Dilangalen said Misuari still enjoyed a sizable following in the Muslim community, and his imprisonment and subsequent trial could add to the country’s instability. — With reports from Perseus Echeminada, Jaime Laude, Jess Diaz, Marichu Villanueva, Roel Pareño, Charlie Lagasca