Another Sayyaf man faces rebellion raps

Another suspected member of the bandit group Abu Sayyaf has been charged with rebellion before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Milham Saham, 24,was brought to the DOJ on Monday for inquest on charges of rebellion and illegal possession of explosives filed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command.

Saham was apprehended at a checkpoint in Barangay Buhanginan in Patikul, Sulu last week.

The military said they recovered from Saham an improvised explosive device and bomb-making components.

According to the AFP, Saham was identified by informants as a member of the Abu Sayyaf under Radullan Sahiron, a senior leader of the terrorist group.

The DOJ provided Saham with a public lawyer. He was made to sign a waiver for an extended period of detention as he opted to answer the charges in a preliminary investigation.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Clarisa Kuong set the preliminary hearing at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 15.

Saham was brought back to his detention cell at the AFP Custodial Center at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City after the hearing.

Last month, the AFP filed charges of rebellion before the DOJ against three suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits arrested during an encounter with Philippine Marines in Sulu.

The suspects were identified as Salip Ismael Abdulla, Isa Ukang and a minor.

Mindanao remains under martial law until December following attacks by the Maute terrorist group in Marawi City on May 23.

Hundreds of Maute and Abu Sayyaf bandits have since been arrested and charged.