Ombud junks complaint vs De Lima, ex-Sulu exec

MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the criminal and administrative complaint filed by defeated vice gubernatorial candidate Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie against Sen. Leila de Lima, former Sulu Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan Sr. and three others in connection with the release of four suspected members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group in 2013.

In a nine-page resolution released to the media Monday, the ombudsman said Tulawie and his fellow complainant Abner Tahil's allegations against the respondents were “devoid of evidence” and merely based on hearsay.

“In a nutshell, complainants' allegations are devoid of evidence. Without evidence, allegations are just empty words,” the resolution, approved by Ombudsman ConchitaCarpio-Morales on December 13, 2017, read.

In their joint complaint filed before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao on Nov. 18, 2016, Tulawie and Tahil charged De Lima, Tan, then National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Chairman Mehol Sadain, then NCMF Commissioner Edil Baddiri and private lawyer Wendell Sotto of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.

Tulawie and Tahil also charged De Lima, Tan, Sadain and Baddiri of administrative offenses of grave misconduct, dishonesty, neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The two alleged that Tan promised suspected ASG terrorists Mohammad Sali Said, Jul Ahmad Ahadi, Robin Sahiyal and Mujibar “Bong” Amon that they would be freed from detention at Camp BagongDiwa in Taguig if they would testify against the complainants.

Tulawie and Tahil were at that time facing cases before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 in connection with the May 2009 bombing in Patikul, Sulu which was believed to be an assassination attempt against Tan. Tulawie and Tahil were detained from 2012 to 2013. (Philstar.

com)