AFP wants custody of Abu Sayyaf leader Susukan
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Sunday that it is seeking to secure the custody of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-commander Abduljihad "Idang" Susukan.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, said the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have agreed to transfer Susukan from the national police headquarters in Camp Crame, where he is temporarily detained, to the military's main base in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
"For security considerations and Idang Susukan being a high value individual, the AFP through The Judge Advocate General and the PNP through the Intelligence Group will file before the court a Joint Motion to Transfer Custody of the accused Susukan to the AFP," he said.
As of this writing, the PNP and AFP were still awaiting the decision of the court as to where Susukan will be officially committed.
Arevalo said the captured bandit should be made accountable for the crimes he was accused of.
Susukan is facing multiple charges for 23 counts of murder, five counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and six counts of frustrated murder.
"The ball is now with the Department of Justice for the prosecution of cases," Arevalo said.
Meanwhile, Arevalo refused to comment on the possibility that Susukan might be given amnesty.
"The matter of amnesty is beyond the AFP to comment on since that is a legal matter. It is an issue the resolution of which is rightfully vested upon the political decision makers to pass upon based on the recommendation of the Department of Justice," Arevalo said.
"Whatever that decision will be, the AFP will support it," he noted.
The issue on the amnesty was raised after it was reported that Susukan submitted himself voluntarily to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari, who turned him over to the police in Davao City.
Susukan allegedly yielded to Misuari to have his left arm be replaced with prosthetics after he lost it in a gunbattle with security forces in 2019. He is believed to have been housed at the MNLF camp in Jolo, Sulu.
On August 11, Misuari allegedly brought Susukan to Davao City for the medical operation.
The trip went almost undetected by security forces until a Malaysian media outlet reported the sighting of the ASG leader, which eventually reached the attention of the AFP and PNP.
Susukan was reportedly wanted in Malaysia for cross-border abductions in the coast of Sabah.
Two days later or on August 13, Misuari, according to the PNP, turned over Susukan to the police while they were in the MNLF chair's house in Maa, Davao City.
But Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had said that he wanted Misuari to be investigated after reports floated that he was coddling Susukan.