DOJ OKs filing of raps vs 3 Davao blast suspects

The AFP presents to the media the suspected terrorists involved in the Davao night market bombing last month. FRANCES MANGOSING/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the filing of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against three suspected members of the Maute Terrorist Group who were the alleged perpetrators of the Davao City blast last September 2.

In a resolution released Tuesday, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon and Prosecutor General Claro Arellano approved the filing of a case for violation of Republic Act 9515 or Illegal Possession of Explosives, Firearms and Ammunition against TJ Tagadaya Macabalang alias Abu Tufail, Wendel Apostol Facturan alias Muraimin and Musali Mustapha alias Mus and Abu Hurayra.

The DOJ said the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) was able to prove that the three respondents illegally possessed  small arms, ammunitions as well as the explosive components.

The three were arrested at a checkpoint along Pedro Colina Hill in Cotabato City last Oct. 4 at 3:30 p.m. Seized included one intratec model 9mm semi-auto submachine gun without a serial number, one machine gun magazine and 20 live 9mmm ammunitions.

READ: 3 Davao bomb suspects nabbed

Also seized were caliber .45 combat commander, two caliber .45 magazines and 14 caliber .45 live ammunitions, improvised explosive device (IED) materials, two 60MM cartridge, two blasting caps, four mobile phones and two electronic circuit with a nine-volt battery. One of the four mobile phones contained a video of the night market bombing in Davao City.

“Taking into consideration that the Intratec semi auto pistol has no serial number, it necessarily follows that the same is unregistered. Since respondents were caught in possession of said firearms and ammunition without authority, the latter are deemed liable under the aforesaid law,” the resolution stated.

Based on the certification issued by the police’s Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD), the confiscated IEDs were capable of producing explosion, capable of producing mass casualty and damage to property.

The three accused, in denying the accusations against them, said they were abducted and tortured by the police.

READ: Davao bombing suspects deny allegations

But the DOJ resolution stated that the denial of the three accused “is intrinsically weak.”

“As between the conflicting testimonies of the parties regarding the surrounding circumstances of respondent’s arrest, we find that of the complainants to be more credible,” the DOJ said. RAM/rga