Department of Justice (DoJ) prosecutors have secured a conviction for a captured suspected Indonesian terrorist who fought with the Maute Group during the Marawi City siege in 2017.
The Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 266 has found Muhammad Ilham Syahputra guilty of illegal possession of a handgun when he was arrested on November 1, 2017 in violation of Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act.
In a decision promulgated last Thursday, Judge Marivic Vitor said the prosecution was able to establish the elements of the crime, particularly, that “Accused Syahputra who possessed the calibre .45 pistol with magazine loaded with ammunitions, does not have any license or authority to possess the same.”
“The Initial Result of Firearm Records Verification shows the negative finding that accused Syahputra is not a licensed/registered firearm holder,” the magistrate ruled.
With this, the court sentenced the Indonesian to imprisonment from a minimum of eight years and one day up to a maximum of 10 years, eight months and one day.
On the other hand, the judge acquitted Syahputra of the crime of violating Republic Act 9516, an act amending Presidential Decree 1866 which prohibits the illegal manufacture, dealing and acquisition of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
The judge stated that “the prosecution failed to satisfy all the elements for the conviction of the accused of the offense charged.”
“Inevitably, accused should be acquitted of the offense of Violation of Republic Act 9516,” he ruled.
Syahputra was arrested during a clearing operation in Barangay Luksa Datu in Marawi City after being spotted by a Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) swimming out of his hiding place.
Syahputra was found in possession of seven pieces of gold bracelets, a fragmentation grenade, a .45-caliber pistol and magazines, and a passport possibly from his Indonesian companion. (Jeffrey Damicog)
