FORENSICS probers investigate the incident. (Photo via Liza Jocson)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Joint Task Force Zamboanga commander and 11 other Army personnel are facing criminal complaints for negligence, frustrated murder, and murder for a raid in Barangay Sinunuc here which resulted in the death of a minor and two other persons here on Thursday, April 23.
Zamboanga City Police Office investigators Police Major Chester Natividad and Police Capt. Joey Cordero filed multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, April 29, against Corporal Vergil S. Jurada and Private Lorens Jhon G. Arayani.
Charges of criminal negligence were filed against Joint Task Force Zamboanga commander Col. Danilo G. Ambe, Major Voltair Herrera, Private First Class Joey B. Apostol, Corporal Alejandro S. Maisog, Private Jomar D. Macasling, Private First Class Wagner Abalos Llanasas Jr., Corporal Jesmar B. Mendoza, Private Ian Jade B. Tabilona, Corporal Abdurajil A. Asula, and Corporal Harold Kenn L. Castre.
Army and police intelligence operatives conducted an arrest warrant operation against Saddam Siddik, a fugitive Abu Sayyaf terrorist hiding in Sitio Alas-As, Barangay Sinunuc, this city.
Barangay lupon member Jerry Alfad, Alfad’s 12-year-old son Salam, and nephew Rayyan were killed and three persons, including a Sangguniang Kabataan kagawad, were wounded in the operation.
Troops failed to arrest Siddik who was reportedly not in the area when the raid was conducted.
A statement from the Police Regional Office-9 stated that a legitimate law enforcement operation was conducted against the target who was reportedly “monitored to be in the area.”
The team alleged that a shootout occurred, contrary to witnesses’ accounts of a serious breach of legal procedures on arrest.
The Special Investigative Task Group Alfad was organized by the PRO-9 which investigated the incident and filed criminal charges against the arresting team.
Meanwhile, police arrested a 73-year-old man wanted for rape, sexual assault, and acts of lasciviousness here on Wednesday, April 28.
The suspect is under the custody of the Zamboanga City Police Office Station 4 for documentation and appropriate legal proceedings.