from web site
June 1, 2000, The Philippine Star, MILF leader faces arrest, by Allen Estabillo,
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - A South Cotabato judge has ordered the arrest of a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander and his men for the May 3 siege on a highway in Tupi town.
Tupi Judge Gaydefredo Ocampo issued the arrest warrant against Commander Nadsid Faisal, one Danny Tabayag and their men, all belonging to the MILF's 204th Brigade based in Barangay Bentung Sulit, Polomolok town.
The warrant came as a result of brigandage charges earlier field by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 12 (Central Mindanao) against them. Ocampo recommended a bail of P28,000 for each of the accused, who are also set to be charged for illegal detention and damages.
According to the CIDG, Faisal personally led about a hundred of his men in taking a portion of the highway linking this city and South Cotabato last May 3 and held several vehicles and more than a hundred passengers at bay.
Faisal and his men blockaded the highway with a passenger bus and several private vehicles in Polonuling, Tupi at about 6 a.m. and took their passengers hostage.
They herded the commuters to the nearby Tropifresh plant of Dole Philippines, but all managed to escape when clashes ensued between the Moro rebels and responding government troopers.
An Army soldier was wounded while a number of rebels were believed killed in the gunfight. A suspected rebel was also captured.
The CIDG-Region 12 said Faisal, clad in camouflage attire, personally directed the siege. It also accused Faisul's group of robbing commuters, among them Lake Sebu Mayor Samuel Loco, of their personal belongings. Loco lost a government-issued M-16 Armalite rifle and several important personal items.
Faisal admitted responsibility for the incident and also for the simultaneous siege on the Palian bridge, also in Tupi, in a subsequent statement to the media.
The crime of brigandage, according to Article 306, Chapter II of the Revised Penal Code, is committed when "more than three persons formed a band of robbers for the purpose of committing robbery in the highway or kidnapping persons for the purpose to be attained by means of force and violence."
Persons found guilty of brigandage face the penalty of prison mayor (six to 12 years imprisonment) to a maximum of reclusion temporal (12 to 20 years).
Guns' purchase
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