DOJ forms panel to prepare cases vs Misuari, followers over Zambo attack

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice created on Wednesday a team of prosecutors to assist the Philippine National Police in the investigation and the possible filing of cases against Moro National Liberation Front chair Nur Misuari and his followers who have occupied several villages in Zamboanga City.

The creation of the panel of prosecutors was “in the interest of the service and pursuant to the provisions of existing laws,” De Lima said in her memorandum.

Named to the panel were assistant state prosecutors Niven Canlapan and Aristotle Reyes and prosecution attorney Cesar Angelo Chavez III under the Office of the Prosecutor General; assistant regional prosecutor Ivy Damayo Elvinas of the Zamboanga Peninsula regional prosecutor’s office; and assistant city prosecutor Edwinlino Custodio of the Zamboanga City prosecutor’s office.

The prosecutors, according to De Lima, will assist the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the fact-finding investigation and evidence gathering “relative to the ongoing incident in Zamboanga, where MNLF fighters, purportedly led by known loyal supports and lieutenants of Misuari infiltrated some of the coastal villages in the said city, killing officers and civilians and taking residents as hostages.”

She said the assistance would include helping in the case buildup; determination of proper charges to be filed, if any; and evaluation of evidence that the CIG would gather.