MANILA: A court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the Moro National Liberation Front founder and leader Nur Misuari on charges of graft and corruption in office while he was governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.
Misuari and three others are accused of falsifying requisition vouchers and orders in 2000-2001 for the purchase of $2.7 million worth of textbooks and other educations materials that were never delivered, and misappropriating the cash.
In an 18-page judgment, Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court ruled that there was probable cause to issue arrest warrants for Misuari, 78, and Leovigilda Cinches, Pangalian Maniri and Sittie Asia Usman, all from the education department of the Mindanao regional office. All four also received a travel ban.
The complaint was first filed in September 2016 by the Office of the Ombudsman. The four accused asked for deferral of arrest warrants and of further proceedings on the ground that the Ombudsman failed to establish any conspiracy. The anti-graft court found no merit in their defense.
The presidential palace said there would be no intervention in the case and only Misuari could defend himself. “The onus at this point will have to be with Mr Misuari,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
Philippine court orders MNLF’s leader’s arrest
Philippine court orders MNLF’s leader’s arrest
