Mindanao officials want special courts for terrorism cases

DAVAO CITY — Mindanao governors and mayors are seeking the establishment of special courts that would specifically try terrorism-related cases.

The proposal, addressed to the Supreme Court, was drawn up during this week’s joint meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Councils (RPOCs) of Regions 11 and 12 held here.

The local executives from Central and Southern Mindanao said the special courts are needed to expedite cases against suspects in bombings and similar terrorist attacks.

They envision the special courts to function similar to special courts handling drug-related cases.

But the presiding judges of these anti-terror courts and their families shall be accorded special security arrangements given the sensitivity of the cases they would handle, they said.

The Mindanao leaders also demanded the immediate passage of the anti-terrorism bill which has remained pending in Congress.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who chairs the RPOC of Region 11, lamented that existing legal processes do not allow authorities to pin down suspected terrorists, especially those identified as the perpetrators of bombing attacks.

Duterte also criticized Congress for not acting fast on the proposed anti-terrorism bill.

The Mindanao officials said at least P143.7 million is needed to fund a plan that would strengthen security in the South.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol said the Mindanao security plan is aimed at helping local government units fight terrorism given their limited counter-insurgency funds.

He cited the need to fund the security plan, noting the continuing threat of terrorism amid the spate of bombings and other attacks across Mindanao, believed perpetrated by local followers of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group.

"The threat of terrorism is real and not just imagined and concocted. Unless something is done, many more will die and many more will suffer. Protecting the island of Mindanao and the future of our children is our moral obligation," he said.

Piñol lamented how very few officials appreciate the gravity of the terrorist threat in Mindanao, especially with suspected terrorists taking refuge in the dense forests of the island.

The proposed security plan, drawn up by Mindanao local executives following the series of bombings in Central Mindanao last month, will involve the extensive training and equipping of barangay tanods and civilian volunteers.

Of the proposed fund, at least P70.4 million will go to the training of the deputized tanods, while P27.4 million will be spent for their equipment.

Meanwhile, as proposed, P36.9 million will go to the strengthening of the intelligence network and patrol and visibility; P5 million for an inventory and registration of unlicensed firearms in Mindanao; and P4 million for the registration and formation of civilian volunteer organizations.