Jolo cathedral bombing suspects charged before court

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice on Wednesday charged the principal suspect Mukammar Pay alias “Kammah” and four others who were tagged in the Jolo cathedral bombing that killed at least 22 people.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said that Officer-in-Charge, Provincial Prosecutor Rommel Cancio filed charges of complex  crime of multiple murder with multiple frustrated murder against “Kammah” and the following:

• Mukammar Pay alias Kammah
• Alnaji Gadjali alias Apah
• Radjan Gadjaliw
• Kaiser Gadjalli
• Said Alih

The STAR reported that the charges include 23 counts of murder and 95 counts of frustrated murder before a trial court in Jolo.

Also named in the charge sheet are several identified and unidentified accused who remain at large.

Director General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police chief, said Kammah—the main suspect in the bomb attacks—was forced to surrender to the military by the massive security operations that followed the bombings. Kammah was later turned over to the police.

The four others surrendered to the police’s Special Investigation Task Group.

The bombing of Our Lady Mt. Carmel Cathedral happened on January 27. The attack claimed at least 22 lives and injured dozens of civilians and authorities.

Trial in Jolo for now

Perete said that Department of Justice has yet to ask to transfer the trial in a Manila court from Jolo.

“The evidence and witnesses necessary to prosecute the case are in Jolo,” the DOJ spokesperson said.

Perete said that it would be “more efficient” to hold the trial in Jolo, “unless compelling reasons exist.”

“As of now, we have yet to receive any request from our prosecutor to effect such transfer,” added Perete. — with a report from The STAR/Edu Punay