BY AARON RECUENCO
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will leave to President Duterte the decision on whether or not Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Abduljihad Susukan, who is wanted for a string of high-profile kidnappings and murders, would be given amnesty.
“Amnesty is not within the PNP powers to grant. That’s I think purely vested on the Executive or I think through legislation,” said PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa.
Reports of amnesty for Susukan surfaced as his closeness with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Chairman Nur Misuari could be used for the latter to integrate him to the MNLF and eventually absolved him of the charges leveled against him.
Susukan was served with more than 30 arrest warrants on Thursday last week after he was reportedly surrendered Misuari in Davao City.
Misuari was accused of coddling Susukan since April when the latter surrendered to the MNLF Chairman who in turn allegedly allowed him to roam around the MNLF camp instead of turning him over to the government.
Misuari reportedly even accompanied Susukan to Davao City from Jolo using a private plane on April 9.
The turnover of Susukan happened at Misuari’s house in Davao City and reportedly only occurred due to pressure exerted on the MNLF chairman.
Gamboa would not discuss the details on Susukan’s turnover to the police amid conflicting statements of government security officials especially on why Susukan has been in Misuari’s custody in Jolo and even accompanied the wanted ASG leader to Davao City.
The PNP chief said they would just present everything either to the courts which issued the arrest warrants or the Department of Justice.
“As to the appreciation on how he (Susukan) was arrested, we will lay down all the facts to the courts involved. So only the courts can determine whether it’s voluntary surrender, arrest or capture based on the prevailing circumstances that have taken place during that incident,” said Gamboa.
Experts said that based on the law, Misuari could be held liable for allegedly coddling a wanted person like Susukan, but Gamboa would not say why the MNLF chairman was either questioned or asked to explain why he was with Susukan.
Misuari, who himself is wanted for instigating the failed Zamboanga City siege, is a known close ally of President Duterte.
But Gamboa said that in negotiating for the turnover of Sususkan, the PNP wanted to avert any confrontation between the local police and the group of Misuari.
“There were a lot of things that had to be considered before the arrest. So appropriate coordination was done so that there would be no actual confrontation that would happen and good enough, everything turned out fine,” said Gamboa.
Susukan is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City. (Aaron Recuenco)
