280 Misuari followers moved out of Zamboanga to Manila

ZAMBOANGA CITY—More than 280 followers of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction head Nur Misuari have been moved out of a detention facility here and sent to Metro Manila to face trial for their roles in a terror attack on this city two months ago.

Soldiers and policemen given the task of securing the MNLF men confirmed the transfer but refused to reveal more details for security reasons.

Chief Insp. Ariel Huesca, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao regional police office, said details of the transfer involved “national security.”

Senior Supt. Rey Dante Soledad, in charge of securing the perimeter of the San Ramon Penal Colony in the village of Talisayan here, said all the MNLF detainees had been “safely transported.” The facility housed the detainees before their transfer.

Zamboanga City Councilor Josephine Pareja, a resident of Talisayan, said the transfer started on Thursday night and was completed on Friday.

Pareja said the transfer brought a sigh of relief among residents.

“We were able to heave a sigh of relief and we can celebrate the New Year properly without fear and worry about a possible attack,” said Pareja.

The detainees, according to Pareja, were escorted on foot to a wharf where a Navy boat was waiting.

Early this month, security at the San Ramon Penal Colony was heightened after authorities intercepted notes from visiting relatives that said there was a plan to rescue the detainees, Soledad said.

The detainees are expected to be in Metro Manila before the New Year.

Ricardo Cabaron, city prosecutor, said documents about the cases had already been sent to the Department of Justice last month. A Taguig court is expected to try the cases.

All the detainees were arrested from September to October in connection with the 23-day Zamboanga siege. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao