Ex-Sulu lawmaker, 2 ex-mayors tagged in Zamboanga airport blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Police authorities have tagged a former Sulu congressman and two former mayors as the alleged masterminds of the bombing outside the arrival area of the Zamboanga International Airport last Aug. 5 that targeted Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan.

Chief Superintendent Edwin Corvera, Region 9 police director, identified the three as former Sulu second district congressman Munir Arbison and former mayors Ahmad Nanoh and Najib Maldisa of Pangutaran and Maimbung towns, respectively.

Corvera also identified four other suspects, namely Hadji Maulan Omar, Jojo Adam, Musimar Alih, and Munir Hadjirul. 

“This is based on the testimonies of four witnesses who have been involved in the planning stage,” Corvera said.

Two bomb carriers were killed in the explosion, while 24 others, including Tan, were wounded.

Corvera said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 9, which led the task force probing the bombing, has filed charges against the suspects, as a supplemental pleading to the case it earlier had filed against three others before the city prosecutor’s office.

The three other suspects who were tagged as the “executioners” of the bombing were Adong Salahuddin, Allan Sahuddin and a John Doe. 

Corvera said they have filed charges of multiple frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder and illegal possession of explosives against the alleged masterminds and the rest of the suspects.

Senior Superintendent Edwin Diocos, CIDG-Region 9 director, said the inclusion of the three Sulu politicians was based on the testimonies of the four witnesses.

Diocos said the witnesses disclosed that the plan to assassinate Tan was hatched in the latter part of 2008. 

Diocos said they found the witnesses’ testimonies to be “consistent and based on the investigation we have done, we believe, as we are morally and legally convinced, that they have participation in this heinous incident.” 

Diocos said the witnesses even revealed that a car was even acquired in Davao to be used in the May 13, 2009 bombing near the Sulu provincial capitol in Patikul but a motorcycle was eventually utilized. Tan was slightly wounded in the blast.

“We are ready as we have all the evidence against these people,” Corvera said.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Cristobal, deputy chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation Western Mindanao, said the four witnesses and their families have been provided with security.

Cristobal also gave assurance that security measures have been taken against a possible backlash from the three Sulu politicians.

Corvera said they were waiting for the issuance of the arrest warrant against the suspects.