De Lima, Sulu Vice Gov. Tan, accused of freeing 3 Abus

Senator Leila De Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

COTABATO CITY—A Sulu human rights defender has filed a complaint against Sen. Leila de Lima, Sulu Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan and several others for allegedly freeing “high-value” Abu Sayyaf suspects three years ago.

The complaint was filed on Friday last week by Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, head of the Sulu-based human rights group, Bawgbug and Abner Salahi Tahil, a Sulu resident.

The complaint accuses De Lima, Tan, former Commission on Elections commissioner Mehol Sadain, and lawyers Edelwasif Baddiri and Wendell Sotto of “aiding, protecting, providing shelter, protection, transportation, and legal services and financing” for the release of three Abu Sayyaf suspects from Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Feb. 15, 2013.

De Lima, then justice secretary, was also charged with “dishonesty, neglect of duty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

Tulawie, a political rival of Tan, and Tahil said De Lima and the others violated Republic Act No. 10168, or “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012,” and the antigraft law.

Sadain said the charge against him and Baddiri, was “preposterous.”

“If Mr. Tulawie wants to get back at Sakur Tan, he should do just that, and refrain from maliciously harassing other people,” said Sadain.

Sadain said as far as he could recall, he and Baddiri only provided legal assistance to one Abu Sayyaf suspect, a certain Ustadz Badron of Tawi-Tawi, who was a religious teacher.