Abu who ran in 2016 polls gets life for gunrunning

The San Juan City regional trial court yesterday sentenced to life in prison a suspected Abu Sayyaf rebel who was arrested in September 2016 for illegal possession of high-powered firearms and explosives.

Branch 264 Judge Genie Gapas-Agbada found Kenneth Isa guilty of 11 counts of illegal possession of firearms.

Superintendent Roque Merdegia said Isa, who lost in his bid as vice governor of Sulu in the 2016 national elections, cried when his sentence was read.

In a 20-page decision, Agbada cited the prosecution’s evidence that proved beyond reasonable doubt that Isa was in possession of firearms.

The judge junked Isa’s defense that he was not the owner of the firearms and a mere visitor at the house where he was arrested.

Isa was arrested on Sept. 26, 2016 in Barangay West Crame where assorted firearms were found in his possession.

Four M-16 rifles, two M-14 rifles, six M203 grenade launchers, three rounds for M203 grenade launchers, a .45 caliber pistol and approximately 8,000 bullets.

Merdegia said Isa is involved in gunrunning activities Metro Manila and Cavite, smuggling firearms for warlords in Sulu and Basilan.

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