The online casino philippines Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the conviction of a member of the Maute terrorist group for unlawful possession of an explosive device. deskgame
In a 16-page decision provided by the Justice Department, the CA Fifth Division affirmed the ruling of the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 that found Nasifa Pundug guilty of violation of Presidential Decree 1866, as amended by Republic Act 9516.
She was sentenced to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years of imprisonment.
“Nasifa's defense of denial failed to overcome the prosecution's evidence, especially the testimonies of prosecution witnesses,” the CA said in its decision.
“In this jurisdiction, denial and alibi cannot prevail over the positive identification of the assailants by the witness,” it added.
In August 2016, authorities arrested Pundug and seven other alleged members of the Maute group in Lumbayanague, Lanao del Sur.
Authorities said they retrieved several illegal contrabands from the group, including a blasting cap inside Pundug’s bag.
In defense, Pundug argued that the blasting cap had no serial number and was not properly marked during and after her arrest.
Further, she said there was also no photograph taken of the blasting cap and it was also not presented during trial.
Pundug said these give rise to doubts as to the blasting cap’s existence and identification.
However, the CA said that authorities were able to explain that the lack of identification marks and photographs was due to the sensitive nature of the blasting cap, which could lead to an explosion.
The appellate court also said that the non-presentation of the blasting cap was due to the logistical impossibility or complications brought by its dangerous and sensitive nature.
Further, the court said that the existence of the explosive was proven by the testimony of witness Army Lieutenant Joseph Plumentera.
“Verily, Lt. Plumentera's testimony alone suffices to prove that Nasifa was caught in flagrante delicto of possession of a blasting cap, without license or authority to carry the same,” the CA said.
The CA also said that the witnesses of the prosecution were military or police officers who enjoy the presumption of regularity in the performance of their official duties.
For their part, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla welcomed the conviction, saying it is a big boost in the government’s fight against terrorism.
The Maute group stormed Marawi City on May 23, 2017, triggering a five-month battle which resulted in over a thousand deaths and left the .
Omar Maute and Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon were declared dead in October 2017 during the Marawi Siege. The Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier said that Abdullah and others were killed in an earlier airstrike. The AFP said the other Maute brothers have died in clashes against authorities.
In May, a Taguig court also sentenced , the matriarch of the Maute family in Marawi City, to up to 40 years of imprisonment for terrorism financing.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
