Zambo City mayor favors Misuari trial in Metro Manila

Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco on Thursday said she prefers Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari be tried in Metro Manila for the charges he and dozens of his followers are facing in connection with last month's attack on the city.

In an interview on GMA News TV's News To Go, Climaco said she has written a petition to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima asking that the trial of Misuari and others be done outside Zamboanga City.

"We welcome it because we have the detainees (captured MNLF rebels) here right now in San Ramon and as well as jails in Zamboanga, and the residents do not feel comfortable with them being here. And I have written a petition to [Justice] Secretary Leila de Lima so that the [trial] of the case will be held outside the city of Zamboanga," she said.

De Lima earlier said they also requested the Supreme Court for a transfer of the venue of the case from Zamboanga City to anywhere within Metro Manila.

Likewise, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said it would be “easier” to have Misuari tried in the National Capital Region.

"Kung pumayag po ang Korte Suprema, mas mabuti sa atin para litisin si Ginoong Misuari. Mas madili litisin," Lacierda said at a press conference Wednesday.

Charges vs Misuari, Malik 

On Wednesday afternoon, the Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court Branch 13 issued arrest warrants against Misuari, MNLF commander Habier Malik, Bas Arki and Assamin Hussin in connection with the Zamboanga City attack that led to the deaths of over 200 people and the displacement of thousands of residents.

Climaco vowed that as one of the petitioners, she would pursue the case in order to seek justice for the residents and all those who have died.

Also she said that even though Misuari is believed to be hiding in Sulu province, Zamboanga City is ready to extend "whatever we can in terms of personel to... bring about justice to the people... those who have died, those who have lost homes, those who are still suffering double in the tragedy."

Rehabilitation

In the same interview, Climaco said the local government is considering six months to one year rehabilitation process in wake of last month's MNLF attack on the city.

She noted that the number of evacuees have increased the past week due to the flooding brought about by heavy rain in the area these past days.

"Ngayon lang lumabas ang araw for the first time, and we pray and ask God to continue giving us sunshine and sunny weather because we have 18,000 more evacuees from of 22 barangays that have been affected, aside from the 118,000 evacuees of the crisis," she said.

Meanwhile, Climaco said President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development to assist in the rehabilitation of homes lost due to the crisis.

"Currently, we really need a lot of mats, a lot of dry clothes for women, children, and babies, diapers, milk formula, and eventually, we would need cleaning materials," she noted.

"We need boots, gloves to be able to clean the debris. And we will all need support in what they can give in terms of food," she added. — Amanda Fernandez/LBG/RSJ, GMA News