SC orders stop to transfer of suspect in slay try on Sulu gov

DAVAO CITY—The timely intervention of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), asking the Supreme Court to step in on the case of arrested human-rights activist Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, saved him from being sent back to Jolo, Sulu, on Tuesday.

Tulawie is accused of involvement in the May 13, 2009, bombing at the Sulu Capitol Complex in Patikul town which injured 12 people and said to be aimed at Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan.

Forced by military intelligence operatives to board a commercial plane bound for Zamboanga City early on Tuesday, Tulawie was already on his way to Jolo when Supreme Court Deputy Court Administrator Raul Bautista Villanueva ordered the regional trial courts (RTC) in Zamboanga and Davao City not to carry out Sulu RTC Judge Betlee-Ian Barraquias’ order and bring Tulawie back to Davao City.

Villanueva said Barraquias’ order to bring Tulawie to Jolo was contrary to the Supreme Court resolution on June 13 last year transferring the venue of Tulawie’s trial to Davao City.

Earlier, Tulawie’s lawyers resisted attempts to bring Tulawie to Sulu, saying that his life was in danger in Sulu. This prompted the Supreme Court to transfer the venue of his trial to Davao City.

Groups supporting Tulawie questioned the way he was smuggled out of Davao City on Tuesday. They also denounced the “rush” by which arresting officers tried to carry out Judge Barraquias’ order.

Human rights groups launched the Free Cocoy Tulawie Movement.

Lawyer Mary Ann Arnaldo, executive director of the Mindanao Peace Council, said officials of Jolo have been defying the Supreme Court order to transfer Tulawie’s case to Davao City. “It shows how influential they are,” said Arnaldo.

Governor Tan said Tulawie was not the human rights activist that his supporters portray him to be. “The intelligence community knows him more than I do,” said Tan, who was injured in the bombing. Germelina Lacorte and Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao