By Charnyl S. Albarracin
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, (PNA) – The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZDSPO) has filed charges against four officials of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) based in this province, a top police official disclosed Wednesday.
Charged for violation of Articles 134 (rebellion) and 135 (inciting sedition) of the Revised Penal Code were Fernando Pagasian, Raul Manuales, Efren Vinas all of Lakewood town and Reynaldo Quezon of Bayog municipality, according to ZDSPO director Senior Supt. Sofronio Ecaldre.
Ecaldre said that Pagasian is the Brigade Commander of 2nd Division Mobile Army of MNLF Bangsamoro Armed Forces; Manuales is Deputy Brigade Commander; Vinas and Quezon, both Intelligence Officers.
Ecaldre said the cases were filed against the four respondents last September 25. All of them however are still at large.
Ecaldre said the filing of the case materialized after two MNLF recruits voluntary surrendered in the town of Tigbao for fear of their safety after seeing on national television some of their comrades were captured at the height of the standoff in Zamboanga City.
Ecaldre identified them as Feliciano Canoy and Jimmy Morales, both Barangay Limas, Tigbao municipality.
“The two surrenderees will become our state witnesses against the four respondents of rebellion case,” Ecaldre added.
He said the four respondents have recruited some males in nine towns in this province to join the MNLF forces with the promise they will be paid from P10,000 to 30,000 monthly plus fee education for their children and livelihood for the family based on the testimonies of Canoy and Morales.
He said those recruited are from the towns of Tigbao, Kumalarang, Lakewood, Bayog, Lapuyan, San Miguel, Vincenzo Sagun, Margosatubig and Dinas in this province.
Both witnesses were bringing with them documents to prove that were active members of MNLF when they surrendered, according to Ecaldre.
Ecaldre said the two witnesses said that they and some 30 other MNLF members were told to report to Zamboanga City before September 8 to join a peaceful rally in time for the proclamation of MNLF founding chair Nur Misuari as the president of Mindanao Republic.
Ecaldre said that the four MNLF officials last September 10 have called Canoy and Morales through the mobile phone of Quezon and ordered them to report to Zamboanga City purposely to reinforce their comrades involved in the standoff.
The standoff started last September 9 when hundreds of MNLF rebels infiltrated this city.
Ecaldre said the case they filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office was docketed under IX-09-INV-131-00-462.