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Court resets arraignment of lady PNP officer linked to Abu Sayyaf
[NEWSINFO.INQUIRER.NET] The Regional Trial Court (RTC) here has reset the arraignment of a police officer who had links with the Abu Sayyaf...also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, an Islamist terror group based in Jolo, Basilan and Zamboanga. Since its inception in the early 1990s, the group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, murders, head choppings, and extortion in their uniquely Islamic attempt to set up an independent Moslem province in the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf forces probably number less than 300 cadres. The group is closely allied with remnants of Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiya and has loose ties with MILF and MNLF who sometimes provide cannon fodder... bandit group. Judge Jorge Cabalit, of RTC Branch 48 in Tagbilaran City, rescheduled the arraignment of Supt. Maria Cristina Nobleza for the illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges. No date had yet been set for Nobleza’s schedule on when she would enter her plea before the court. Sarah Soriano-Hermida, one of Nobleza’s lawyers, said the arraignment was postponed since the court had yet to resolve their motion that sought to dismiss the charges against the police officer. "Our ground is--the court doesn’t have jurisdiction over the accused Nobleza because the arrest was made illegally," said Hermida. The judge gave the prosecution 10 days to comment on the motion while the defense would be given another 10 days to answer. Nobleza, who was wearing a hijab, a veil traditionally worn by Moslem women, arrived the sala of Judge Cabalit around 9 a.m. Considered a "high risk" detainee, she was heavily escorted by coppers that caused a traffic jam along the city’s B. Inting Street. Posted by: Fred 2017-08-26 |
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