DOJ orders release of 18 suspects in Jehovah's Witnesses kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice has ordered the release of 18 people, who were arrested for the Abu Sayyaf Group's kidnapping of six members of the Jehovah's Witnesses Church in Patikul, Sulu on August 2002.

This as Prosecutor General Claro Arellano approved the 12-page resolution of the Anti-Terrorism Task Force, which says 13 of the arrested kidnapping suspects were not the actual persons identified in the charge sheet on the kidnapping case.

"There appears to be no proof of their participation in the kidnapping much less evidence of their purported membership in the Abu Sayyaf Group. Said accused were not positively identified by prosecution witnesses Amily Mantec and Roland Ulla," the DOJ resolution said.

Five other arrested suspects were cleared and ordered released for lack of probable cause.

Ordered released for mistaken identity were:

• former Commissioner of the Department of Education Ustadz Ahmadsali A. Badron, a member of the Reconciliation and Unification of the ARMM
• Hajer Arasani
• Jammal Sawaban
• Robin Sahiyal
• Alton Ladhalaam
• Edwin Siarot Sawaldi
• Mohammad Said Sali
• Adzhar Nawali
• Abdullan Hussih
• George Nami
• Abdullah Ussih
• Jeheri Jeron
• Manny Ismael

The five other suspects released for lack of probable cause were

• Jumlie Orie
• Jul Ahmad Ahadi
• Arabi Sali
• Sonny Boy Barakim
• Abdulwahab Hamja

Six members of the Jehovah's Witnesses Church were abducted by Abu Sayyaf bandits while doing door-to-door sale of cosmetic products in Patikul.

Two of the victims identified as Lemuel BAntolo and Leonel Mantic, were beheaded a day after they were kidnapped.

The four remaining victims were rescued by the military after weeks of operations.