A special court in Taguig City has convicted three members of Maute terrorist group after finding them guilty of committing the crimes of terrorism and rebellion.
In separate decisions, the Taguig City Regional Trial Court, Branch 70, found accused Nur Supian, Araji Samindih and Umad Harun guilty of the crimes of terrorism and rebellion after trial.
Acting Presiding Judge Felix Reyes convicted Supian, trainer of Maute recruits in Sulu, of terrorism and sentenced him to suffer 40 years of imprisonment.
Samindih and Harun, on the other hand, were found guilty of rebellion and were both sentenced to imprisonment of from eight years and one day to 14 years, eight months and one day.
In the first case, the trial court ruled that the prosecution was able to prove that Supian was responsible for putting up Camp Javal Nur or Tiger Base in BarangayPang, Kalingalang Caluang, Sulu where local armed men underwent military trainings.
“After proving the established plan of accused Supian, there is no doubt that his acts sowed and create a condition of widespread and extraordinary fee and panic among the populace, in order to coerce the government to give in to unlawful demand. Supian is guilty of the crime of terrorism under R.A. 9732 [Anti-Terrorism Law],” the decision stated,
On the second case, the RTC held that both Samindih and Harun were members of Maute who took part in the group’s clearing operations at the height of the Marawi siege, citing eyewitnesses who positively identified the two accused.
“As can be gleaned from testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, both accused merely participated or executed the demands of others in committing the crime of rebellion in this instant case, hence, they shall suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua pursuant to . . . Article 135 of the Revised Penal Code,” the 20-page decision read.
The promulgation was held during the annual Judgment Day of the Supreme Court to mark the 43rd anniversary of the Office of the Court Administrator.
The DOJ earlier filed rebellion and terrorism cases against arrested members of Maute before Cagayan de Oro courts.
However, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the cases as well as detention of arrested Maute members to Taguig City earlier this year upon request of the DOJ for security reasons.
