Lawyer seeks SC protection vs MILF threats, harassments

MANILA, Philippines - A Muslim lawyer who accused officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of harassing him and kidnapping his client has sought the protection of the Supreme Court. In a 10-page petition, Sha’riah court lawyer Abdallah Casar asked the high court to issue a writ of amparo against some of the MILF’s top leaders including its chairman, Ebrahim Murad, and spokesman Eid Kabalu. Also named in the petition were a certain Abdulrahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo; Aleem Abo Hanif Salindawan, chair of the MILF Ad-hoc Sha`riah; a certain Abdul Pangandag; Amer Debarosan alias Alan Bangcola; Nasser Abbas; and Jamel Mangandang, village captain of Bito, Marawi City. Casar said he and his client, Disomangcop Polayagan, have been the subject of harassment and threats by the MILF after winning a land dispute case before a Sha`riah case wherein Pangandag, Abbas and Debarosan, suspected MILF members, were the losing parties. He said Polayagan was abducted in May 24, 2007 in Marawi City after the ruling of the Sha’riah court came out. Pangandag and Debarosan allegedly served as lookouts. The petitioner also said that prior to the kidnapping, three respondents in the decided case - Pangandag, Abbas, and Debarosan - filed for a reversal of the case with the MILF Ad-hoc Sha`riah committee. But when the committee summoned Polayagan to appear, Casar said he advised him not to appear since the case had already been decided by the Shariah district court. With his client’s non-appearance in the MILF Ad-hoc committee, the MILF decided the case in favor of Abdul and issued an arrest warrant against Polayagan, who Casar said is not even a member of the secessionist organization. Casar said the MILF detained his client at the MILF detention center in Nusa Island, Wato, Lanao del Sur. He was released at 5 pm that same day after he promised the MILF that he would return on May 30, 2007. After the release, Casar said his client then filed a kidnapping case before the Marawi City Prosecutor’s Office and sought his assistance. After they had filed the case, they received information that the MILF will again kidnap Polayagan if he does not return to the MILF camp. Polayagan then returned to the MILF camp with his five sons and were reportedly met by heavily armed MILF members. Casar said his client was again detained by the MILF and was told that his client and his sons will remain in detention unless the kidnapping case filed against the MILF filed at the Office of the Marawi City Prosecutor’s Office is dropped and he accepts the June 8, 2007 decision of the MILF Sha`riah Court. Casar said his client was later compelled by the MILF to sign the decision of the MILF Shariah Committee, pay for his board and lodging, and together with his sons, sign another affidavit dropping the kidnapping case he had filed. After they were released, Polayagan and his sons signed another affidavit withdrawing their signatures in the decision of the MILF Shariah Committee. Casar said that Abbas later appeared at his office and warned him to stop working as Polayagan’s counsel or the MILF will go after him. He added that a letter with the same request and threat was also delivered to him last February 23. “This words and letter coming straight from the MILF directly addressed to me as a lawyer who’s only giving legal assistance to his clients, seriously threatened me and my family, my right to life, liberty, and security,” Casar said. The MILF also stated in the letter that Casar must not question the decision of the MILF Sha`riah. - GMANews.TV