COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 23, 2009) – The Philippine military praised the conviction Friday of three jailed Filipino terrorists who were found guilty for the series of deadly bombings in the country’s capital Manila.
The three - Mukhlis Yunos, Abdul Fatak Paute and Mamasao Naga – were sentenced Judge Cielito Grulla to 20 years for the December 30, 2000 bombings that killed 22 people and left more than 100 others wounded.
The military said Yunos, a member of the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the others had links with the Indonesian militant Jemaah Islamiya.
“The conviction is a victory of the peace-loving Filipinos. This is a victory in the fight against terrorism,” Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, a regional army spokesman, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Television footages of the trio showed no emotions on their faces, but one of them later shouted “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar” or “God is great”, as security men escorted them away from the packed court room in Manila heavily guarded by police commandos and soldiers.
Some of those near the three men shouted back “mabuhay ang hustisya, mabuhay ang hustisya” which translates to “long live justice”.
A fourth bomber, Indonesian Fathur Roman al-Ghozi, later escaped from a police prison in Manila, but was killed in a clash with government forces in Mindanao where he had been tracked down.
Filipino leader Gloria Arroyo also praised the decision of the court. (Mindanao Examiner)
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