Zambo siege: Noy wants strong case vs Misuari

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – President Aquino has not decided on the bounty the government could offer for the capture of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari.

Aquino told reporters here Wednesday that he wanted a strong case against Misuari. He said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima went to Zamboanga City to personally talk to the witnesses and get their statements.

The Zamboanga City regional trial court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of Misuari and his top lieutenants for the attacks in the city that left hundreds of people dead and thousands wounded and homeless.

Misuari and 60 of his men were accused of rebellion and violation of Republic Act 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

Apart from Misuari, the court also ordered the arrest of MNLF commanders Habier Malik, Assamin Hussin and Bas Arki, who are all at large.

In the case of Malik, Aquino said authorities were not yet through conducting forensic examination to determine whether he was among those killed in the fighting.

Aquino noted reports that Malik could be one of the bodies recovered by government troops, found draped in fabric with a pistol nearby.

The only definitive way to identify if it is really Malik is through DNA testing, Aquino explained.