THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday cleared former Party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman of Anak Mindanao of criminal liability in connection with the November 13, 2007, bombing at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City that killed six people, including Liberal Party Rep. Wahab Akbar of Basilan.
In a three-page resolution, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima junked the petition for review filed by Akbar’s widow and Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar and Nor-Rhama Indanan, wife of injured Kimhar Indanan, seeking the indictment of Hataman and several others for multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder.
“In the instant case, we find no reversible error in the assailed resolution dismissing the complaint against respondents for the complex crime of multiple murder and frustrated murder,” de Lima said.
The DOJ ruling, in effect, removed any legal barrier on the possible appointment of Hataman as officer in charge of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
De Lima affirmed the resolutions issued by an investigating panel of prosecutors issued on February 22, 2008 and April 2, 2008.
The department, in its February 22, 2008 resolution, found probable cause to indict for multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder before the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City accused Caidar Aunal, Adham Kusain and Ikram Indama.
Subsequently, former Lakas Rep. Gerry Salapuddin of Basilan, Police Officer 1 Bayan Judda, Jaharun Jamiri and Benjamin Hataman were also indicted for the same charges before the trial court.
Salapuddin was accused of masterminding the killing of Akbar.
On the other hand, the DOJ dismissed the complaint against Hataman, his brother Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman and Julham Kunam for insufficieny of evidence.
It can be recalled that witnesses recanted their testimonies implicating the Hatamans and claimed that they were tortured into executing the affidavits against them.
The complainants filed a partial motion for reconsideration of the February 22 resolution, which was denied by the DOJ on April 2, 2008.
Meanwhile, the Reform ARMM Now (RAN), a coalition of civil-society organizations, peace advocates and young Moro professionals pushed for the appointment of Hataman as OIC of ARMM.
“We fully support Hataman based on his track record in pursuing the Bangsamoro struggle and background in development work,” Salic Ibrahim, chairman of RAN and executive director of the Maranao People’s Development Center (Maradeca), said.
During his stint in Congress, the group noted that Hataman led investigations on the spate of kidnappings in Basilan and Sulu, as well as sponsored resolutions condemning the killings of Moro activists and detainees suspected of being Abu Sayyaf.
He also primarily sponsored the declaration of March 18, anniversary of the Jabidah Massacre, as a Bangsamoro historical event.
“The appointment of Hataman sends a strong signal that genuine reformists would steer ARMM in less than 20 months before the May 2013 elections,” said Samira Gutoc, a young Muslim professional in media affiliated with RAN.
(With R. Elusfa)
