DOJ brings case of 36 Kiram supporters to Manila, forms panel for prelim probe

The Department of Justice has decided to bring the case of 36 alleged supporters of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III apprehended in Tawi-Tawi all the way to Manila for a preliminary investigation (PI). In an interview with reporters, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she would be forming a panel of prosecutors in Manila to conduct a preliminary probe on the accused, as ordered by a Tawi-Tawi court. The local court on Monday granted a request from the 36, legally represented in court by the Public Attorney's Office, to undergo a PI where they can formally present their counter-affidavits to deny the charges of violation of the election gun ban and violation of Article 118 of the Revised Penal Code (Inciting to War or Giving Motives for Reprisals). "I will just wait for an official copy of the order [from the Tawi-Tawi court] and I will issue a department order assigning or designating a panel of prosecutors to conduct a reinvestigation," De Lima said. Prior to the court order, the case was being handled by a regional prosecutor in Mindanao. De Lima welcomed the court's decision to have the individuals under PI, saying "mas maganda na nga ang ganun para mas klarado." The Justice chief assured the public that the court order was not an indication that the government's case against the 36 are weak. "The respondents were just given fuller opportunity to present their side and for investigators to further strengthen the case against them," she added. "The PI is only a remedy provided or available to respondents. Marami nag-aavail niyan. Kapag na-inquest lang, karamihan ng respondents ay pinapa-reinvestigate talaga iyan," she said. The 36 underwent inquest proceedings, which is usually done to suspects arrested and caught in the act of doing a crime, two weeks ago. An inquest proceeding is a summary inquiry conducted by a prosecutor for the purpose of determining whether the warrantless arrest of a person was based on probable cause, while in a preliminary investigation, a suspect is given an opportunity to be heard and file a counter-affidavit, usually to contest the charges against him. The 36 were also directed by the court to explain and justify their request to lower the bail set for their temporary freedom. PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta earlier told GMA News Online that Regional public attorney Edgardo Gonzales is already preparing an explanation to the judge. The Philippine Navy intercepted the accused two weeks ago with a cache of firearms, supposedly after fleeing Sabah, where clashes had erupted since March 1 due to Kiram's followers' attempt to reclaim the disputed territory.   They were on two separate boats: one with 17 men and one woman off the waters of Omapoy Island, and the other with 18 people off the waters of Andulingan Island, both in Tawi-Tawi. They were detained at Panglima Sugala in Tawi-Tawi. Kiram's spokesman had earlier said that not all those arrested were followers of the sultan. — BM, GMA News