Arrest warrants vs Misuari out; court sets bail at P460K

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities are now in possession of arrest warrants against Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari for graft and malversation cases over alleged anomalous procurements during his term as the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“It is confirmed that warrants of arrest dated August 31, 2017 were already delivered for service on accused Misuari,” Sandiganbayan Third Division clerk of court Dennis Pulma told reporters Wednesday.

Pulma said four warrants of arrest were issued by the court against Misuari and his co-accused, copies of which were delivered to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and National Bureau of Investigation headquarters for immediate implementation.

Pulma said CIDG and NBI local offices in Cotabato City were also furnished with copies of the arrest warrants.

Pulma said the Third Division fixed Misuari's bail bond at P460,000 to P60,000 for two counts of graft and P400,000 for two counts of the complex crime of malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

The Office of the Ombudsman's prosecution panel had originally recommended no bail for the malversation through falsification charges.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and Third Division chairman Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, however, had earlier maintained that the Supreme Court already ruled in 2015 that malversation through falsification is a bailable offense.

On Tuesday, the Third Division released a copy of its resolution dated August 31, finding probable cause to proceed with the trial of the cases and to order Misuari and the other respondents' arrest.

The other respondents ordered arrested were Department of Education-ARMM former director Leovigilda Cinches, former chief accountant Pangalian Maniri, former supply officer Sittie Aisa Usman and former accountant Alladin Usi, as well as Commission on Audit-ARMM former resident auditor Nader Macagaan.

Also ordered arrested were private respondents Cristeta Ramirez of CPR Publishing and Lolita Sambeli of White Orchids Printing and Publishing House.

In a text message to reporters, Misuari's lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla said his client “will respect the due process” but refused to comment when asked if and when the former governor will post his bail.

“It's complicated. It's not only a matter of bail,” Fontanilla said but refused to elaborate.

“We respect the process but sad because the Philippines and MNLF have agreements which provide that any conflict be resolved by the parties,” he said in another text message.

Filed by the ombudsman on May 22, the cases stemmed from the alleged anomalous procurement of educational materials and kits for public schools in 2000 and 2001 amounting to P115.2 million.

The ombudsman said none of the purchased materials were ever delivered. Instead, the respondents allegedly falsified disbursement vouches, purchase orders, canvass reports, sales invoices, delivery receipts and other supporting documents to make it appear that the transactions were above board.

Misuari is also facing charges of rebellion and crime against humanity before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court in connection with the siege of Zamboanga City by the MNLF forces in 2013, which left over 100 people dead and over 120,000 displaced.

Misuari went into hiding for more than a year following the incident.

In November last year, he met President Rodrigo Duterte at the Malacañang to declared the MNLF's willingness to participate in a peace negotiations with the government.

The implementation of the arrest order against him was ordered suspended by Pasig City RTC Branch 158 last year to allow him to join the peace talks.

The order lapsed on April 27, 2017, but in her May 16 decision, Judge Maria Rowena Modesto-San Pedro of Branch 158 extended the suspension of the arrest warrant's implementation for another six months or until November 16.