CA orders NBI to justify detention of suspected Abu Sayyaf member

MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to bring a suspected Abu Sayyaf member before the Manila Regional Trial Court and justify his continued detention.

Salahim Hairal Dawani, a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group is allegedly involved in the abduction of several workers of the Golden Harvest Plantation in Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan in 2001.

The NBI also said Dawani served as one of Abu Sayyaf members who helped in guarding the Dos Palmas, Palawan kidnap victims, including American nationals Martin and Gracia Burnham.

Dawani was arrested by the NBI’s Counter Terrorism Division last March 6, 2019.

Dawani’s wife Jarum Bandang Balongking filed a petition for habeas corpus asking for her husband’s immediate release.

She said that to date, no complaint has been filed against her husband.

“While we share jurisdiction with the RTC to issue extraordinary writ of habeas corpus, such concurrence of jurisdiction, does not, however, afford a party unbridled freedom of choices of court forum. After all, the hierarchy of courts serves as a general determinant of the appropriate forum for petitions for the extraordinary writ,” the resolution read.

The CA has ordered the Manila RTC Executive Judge to conduct a hearing to determine if further detention of Dawani is valid.

The ruling was penned by Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr. and concurred in by Associate Justices Myra Garcia-Fernandez and Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig./gsg