MANILA, (PNA) — The Department of Justice has created a panel to investigate the ongoing crisis in Zamboanga City where the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by its founding chair Nurallaji “Nur” Misuari laid seige in the city Sunday dawn.
In an ambush interview, Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Wednesday said they are now studying the charges to be filed against the MNLF rebels led by Misuari.
“I constituted a panel of prosecutors who are assisting the PNP-CIDG (Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) in the fact-finding, in the gathering of evidence and in the case build-up, and the determination of proper charges, if any, that may be filed,” De Lima said.
De Lima said they will evaluate the pieces of evidence before charges are filed.
She added that the team of prosecutors has started to function Tuesday.
However, she said, what she knows is that it’s indeed the PNP-CIDG that is gathering evidence “on the ground”.
“So this team of prosecutors will be assisting in the case build-up,” De Lima said.
De Lima added that rebellion is also among the cases being studied by the DOJ against the MNLF.
“That’s part of the function or assignment of the team to determine the proper charges based on the facts and the evidence,” De Lima said.
De Lima added that if rebellion or sedition charges are to be filed, but not supported by facts and evidence, it’s difficult.
However, De Lima said as the crisis is still ongoing, there will be no deadline in the investigation.