THE trial of at least 30 members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) over the roadside bombing that killed two US Navy personnel and a Philippine Marine soldier in Indanan town in Sulu four years ago will be moved to Cebu City for security reasons.
The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the transfer of the trial venue Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 4 in Parang, Sulu to the Cebu City RTC.
Security concerns and safety of the witnesses were cited as reasons by the High Court for ordering the transfer of the trial venue.
Representatives from RTC Branch 4 in Sulu went to the Palace of Justice in Cebu City yesterday to transmit the records of the case which shall raffled off to a Cebu City court branch.
The accused were purportedly behind the death of American soldiers Jack Martin and Christopher Shaw as well as Private First Class Jerwin Jose Estrada of the Philippine Marines.
The offense is non-bailable.
Armed with various high-powered firearms, the accused allegedly “assembled, laid-out, and planted improvised explosive devices (landmines)” at barangay Kagay, Buanza, Indanan in Sulu on Sept. 29, 2009.
The victims were part of a contingent in a humanitarian mission to construct a clinic, a school and a barangay hall in the area.
Martin, Shaw, and Estrada were on board a military jeep when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded. The blast was reportedly caused by an IED which had a pressure switch for a trigger. The victims sustained blast wounds which caused their death.
A group which claimed to be allied with the MNLF earlier admitted to be responsible for the bombing that killed the two US Navy personnel and the Filipino marine in Jolo.
The attack was reportedly made in retaliation for the continued operations of the US and Philippine military against the MNLF in the southern province of Sulu.
Among the accused in the case filed in court were Commanders Khaid Abjibon, Ahadon Adak, Abaraham Juel, Jun Ajibon, Kira Adain, a certain Commander Tahil Sali, a certain “Mahan,” “Radzmir”, “Salip Anwar”, “Khalib Sali,” “Aziz Jihili”, “Beji Jihili” and several other members of MNLF. Of the accused, only two were arrested, representatives of the RTC Branch 4 in Sulu said. They said the two detainees will also be transferred to Cebu City pending resolution of the case. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol