Solons seek probe on June 12 arrest of Muslim traders

A number of Muslim congressmen have called for a congressional inquiry into the alleged unreasonable search and seizure and the subsequent warrantless arrest of two Muslim traders in San Andres, Manila last June 12.

 

House Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, Lanao del Sur Rep. Ansaruddin Abdul Malik Adiong, Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison, Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, Maguindanano Rep. Datu Roonie Sinsuat, Sr., and Anak Mindanao Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan filed House Resolution 981 to ask the House committees on Public Order and Safety and on Muslim Affairs to investigate the incident.

 

“The primary objective of this probe is to get to the bottom of what happened in the afternoon of June 12 in the residence of the two Muslim traders, get the side of the police, find out if there was really abuse of authority, and study if there is a need for legislation to address an injustice,” said Hataman.

 

He said the Manila police should have built a strong case against the traders instead of disregarding legal procedures.

 

“Had they done so, we wouldn’t be in this situation, na kailangang pa natin imbestigahan sa Kamara ang insidenteng ito. Good police work should have worked in this case. Pero ang nangyari, mukhang gustong ishort-cut ang proseso at the expense of trampling on the human rights of the Muslim traders,” the Basilan legislator added.

(Had they done so, we wouldn’t be in this situation, where we need Congress to investigate the incident. Good police work should have worked in this case. But what happened is that they took short cuts in the process at the expense of trampling on the human rights of the Muslim traders)

Hataman also said the San Andres incident proves that some policemen are abusing their powers and it could get worse with the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill that was already approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives. The lawmaker voted against the bill.  

 

The resolution recounted that Manila Police District (MPD) officers were to meet Abdullah Palawan Maute and Saadudin Alawiya in Luneta for a buy bust, but the suspects failed to show up. The officers instead went to the house where Maute and Alawiya were residing and forced their way inside to arrest the two without identifying themselves. 

The resolution also said the officers violated standard procedures in conducting search or buy-bust operations by failing to coordinate with the barangay officials, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the police station in the area.