Misuari
trial reset; he gets conjugal visits
By Roy
Pelovello
Moro
leader Nur Misuari won the first round of his legal battle
yesterday after the Calamba Regional Trial Court granted his
motion to postpone the arraignment on charges of rebellion.
Misuari
had a bonus to boot. He was granted by Calamba RTC Judge
Norberto Geraldez conjugal visits by two wives--a move that
the prosecution did not challenge or oppose.
"His
counsel asked for the postponement because of a pending motion
(before the Supreme Court) for the reconsideration of the
change of venue from Jolo to Sta. Rosa, Laguna," Justice
Secretary Hernando Perez to reporters in a briefing.
In
an ambush interview before the proceedings started, Misuari
told reporters he was "leaving everything to God."
Misuari
appeared in an upbeat mood. Unlike seven of his followers who
were in handcuffs, Misuari was led to the courtroom without
restraint.
Security
was tight. Television crews and photojournalists were only
allowed as far as the gate of Fort Sto. Domingo. Members of
the media who were permitted to enter the courtroom were
allowed to bring only their notepads and pens to record the
event.
Misuari
said his trial is also an indictment of the government and the
Organization of the Islamic Conference. "I am not the
only one who is on trial here but also the government itself
and the OIC because all of these are the consequences of the
failure of the peace agreement."
The
defense panel, led by Salvador Panelo, said they need more
time to study the charge because they were informed of the
proceedings only last Thursday.
Judge
Geraldez reset for May 15 the arraignment of Misuari and his
seven co-accused: Abu Harris Usman, Bakil Anay Harun, Akil
Abdurahman Abdua, Gamar Bin Abduradjak, Johann Sawajan
Sanzibar, Uddin Esguerra Ismael and Omar Bin Abdullah.
Perez
stressed that the prosecution opposed Misuari's motion to be
allowed to used a laptop computer during his confinement.
Chief
State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, who led the DoJ prosecution
panel, said Misuari's wives--Eleanora "Roida" Tan
and Tarhata--are entitled to conjugal visits. It is up to the
court to determine the arrangement on how the visits are to be
conducted, Zuno added.
If
by May 15 the Supreme Court has not with a ruling on Misuari's
motion for reconsideration on the transfer of venue, the
prosecution will definitely push for the arraignment to
proceed.
Last
Jan. 22, the Supreme Court granted a Department of Justice
motion to transfer the trial from the Jolo Regional Trial
Court to Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna where the
former goveernor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
is detained.
with
Joel M. Sy Egco
