Zamboanga airport lbombing: Ex-Sulu lawmaker: I'm innocent

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – Former Sulu congressman Munir Arbison dismissed as mere “fabrication” by his political rival police charges that he masterminded, along with two former mayors, the bomb attack at the Zamboanga International Airport last Aug. 5 that targeted Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan.

In a phone interview from his residence in Manila, Arbison said the police investigation led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group failed to gather evidence to pin him down.

“I am ready to face them in court and prove my innocence,” he said.

 Chief Superintendent Edwin Corvera, Region 9 police director, and Senior Superintendent Edwin Diocos, CIDG-Region 9 director, said on Friday that they had filed supplemental charges against Arbison and two former town mayors of Sulu as alleged masterminds of the airport bombing.

Charged with Arbison were former mayors Ahmad Nanoh and Najib Maldisa of Pangutaran and Maimbung towns, respectively, along with four others, namely Hadji Maulan Omar, Jojo Adam, Musimar Alih, and Munir Hadjirul, according to Corvera.

Corvera and Diocos said four witnesses surfaced and voluntarily testified against the seven suspects, as they feared for their lives.

However, Arbison disputed the credibility of the police witnesses, alleging that they were merely paid to drag him into the case.

“That charges presented against me were fabricated and one of the supposed witnesses was paid by a prominent official,” he said.

“(My conscience is clear) and I’m willing to submit myself before the bar of justice. What is my motive (if I would kill) Gov. Tan? I will not sit as the governor (because I’m a plain civilian),” Arbison said.

Arbison said he has consulted his lawyers, confident that he could prove his innocence.

Two of the bomb carriers were killed in the blast outside the arrival area of the Zamboanga International Airport, while 24 others, including Tan, were wounded.