SC approves transfer of Misuari et al. trial to Taguig

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has granted the request of the Department of Justice to transfer the venue of the case against leaders and members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) from Zamboanga to Taguig in Metro Manila.

“The request of the Prosecutor General Claro Arellano requesting for a change of venue was endorsed to the Court en banc which approved the transfer of venue from Zamboanga City to the appropriate Regional Trial Court of Taguig City,” high court’s Information Chief Theodore Te said at a press conference Thursday.

The DOJ made the request to transfer the venue of the case following a letter of Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng” Climaco who sought her help to seek a transfer of the case from Zamboanga to another venue for security reasons.

Misuari and 60 others have been charged before the Zamboanga Court with rebellion and violation of International Humanitarian Law.

The Zamboanga Hall of Justice where all courts are located has been affected by the conflict. It is a four-storey building located in Sta. Barbara, one of the towns most affected by the conflict. It re-opened last October 4

It was at the receiving end of gunfire exchanges since it was beside a Mosque where MNLF snipers were hiding.