Dan Toribio

Daily Zamboanga Times

May 16, 2009

The Sta. Maria Police under Sr. Insp. Felix Martinez yesterday forwarded a case of grave threat and illegal possession of firearms against five men who were nabbed last Thursday afternoon while they were suspiciously tailing the convoy of Anak Mindanao party list representative Mujiv Hataman along Tumaga-Putik road.

Martinez disclosed that based on the evidence and sworn statement of Hataman, they came up with two charges against the five suspects.

The Sta. Maria Police Station chief said that out of the thre .45 caliber pistols recovered from the possession of the suspects, one was unlicensed.

The suspects were identified as Fhardzrie Hassan y Abdundol, 27, Yasser Hassan y Indal, 22, both natives of Tigpalay, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Nathaniel Ramos y Sanadjirul, 30, married of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, Jerry Balanan, 32, married also of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, and Zaldy Maniggel y Talahul, 29, married of Ungkaya Pukan,Basilan. They were detained at rhe Sta. maria Police Station after a thorough investigation before they were taken to the City Prosecutor Office for inquest.

The five suspects were held by the security escorts of Hataman after they were tailing the convoy of the congressman while the latter was on his way home coming from the Zamboanga Airport.

Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan Mayor Joel Maturan told ABS-CBN news that the five suspects are his security escorts. He denied they are out to assassinate Hataman.

Meanwhile, Hataman yesterday said that he will leave everything to the police to take proper action in accordance with the law against the suspects.

In an interview, Hataman believed that he was the target of assignation by the suspects as they were tailing him from Gov. Camins Avenue until Tumaga-Putik road and the five men were acting suspiciously.

Hataman however refused to name names as far as the mastermind of the alleged assassination plot.

The lawmaker also called on the authorities to fast track their investigation on the recovery of powerful bombs near their residence in Guiwan and in Sitio Buenakapok, Culianan at their farm, two months ago.

Hataman said that in two months time, the local police have not come up yet with anything about the botched bomb attack.

The lawmaker is set to deliver a privilege speech in Congress next week regarding the incidents in which his life was in danger.

Moreover, the five suspects were found to be renting a space at a house near Hataman’s residence in Tumaga.