DOJ orders release of 18 men in 2002 abduction of Jehovah's Witnesses members

Thr Department of Justice has ordered the release of 18 people arrested for the August 20, 2002 abduction of six members of the Jehovah's Witnesses by alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf.

 

"While they 'may' be members of the [Abu Sayyaf], there is no sufficient evidence that they participated, in any capacity, in the kidnapping of the six members of the Jehovah's Witnesses," the DOJ said in a 12-page resolution.

 

Ordered freed were:

 

Ustadz Ahmadsali Asmad Badron, Hajer Arasani, Jamaal Sawaban, Robin Sahiyal, Alton Ladhalaam, Edwin Siarot Sawaldi, Mohammad Said Sali, Adzhar Nawali, Abdullan Hussih, George Nami, Abdullah Ussih, Jeheri Jeron, and Manny Ismael, "for not being the same persons charged in the amended information."

 

Meanwhile, also ordered released were:

 

Jumlie Orie, Jul Ahmad Ahadi, Arabi Sali, Sonny Boy Barakim, Abdulwahab Hamja, "for lack of probable cause against them."

 

The DOJ said they should be released because witnesses in the case failed to positively identify them.

 

"Cursory identification does not suffice to convict the accused. What is needed is positive identification made with moral certainty as to the person of the offender," the DOJ said.

 

One of the witnesses who testified in the case, "Maria," claimed she was among the six members of the Jehovah's Witnesses who were abducted in Patikul, Sulu, on August 20, 2002. The other witness, "Juan," was abducted in another incident but was made to join Maria's group in captivity.

 

Maria's husband was later beheaded by their captors, along with another captive Lemuel Bantolo. The victims escaped their abductors in April 2003.

 

The DOJ conducted its reinvestigation after several arrested suspects in the kidnapping protested that they were arbitrarily arrested and that their names were not even listed on the arrest warrants.

 

The case was already being heard by Judge Torinio Ilao Jr. of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 266 when the respondents started filing several motions to insist their arrest was illegal.

 

At least eight supposed Abu Sayyaf members, who attended the reinvestigation, denied involvement in the abduction.

 

But the two former captives said the eight were the ones who either guarded and fed them during their captivity, or transported ammunition for the armed group.

 

The victims also did not point to two individuals earlier arrested by authorities for allegedly both being  "Kumander Black Tungkang." Of the more than 130 people accused in the kidnapping, the victims were made to identify from 21 arrested suspects.

 

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong, vice chairman of the DOJ Anti-terrorism Task Force, admitted it was "unusual" for the DOJ to take the initiative in conducting a reinvestigation.

 

The members if the DOJ reinvestigating panel were Assistant State Prosecutors Mary Jane Sytat, Josie Christina Dugay, Marmarie Satin-Vivas, and Benito Sales. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News