MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the criminal and administrative complaints filed against Sen. Leila de Lima, former Sulu vice governor Abdusakur Tan Sr. and three other persons in connection with the release of four suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in 2013.
In a nine-page resolution released yesterday, the ombudsman said the complaints were “devoid of evidence” and based on hearsay.
“Without evidence, allegations are just empty words,” the resolution approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales read.
In their complaints, Temogen Tulawie, a defeated vice gubernatorial candidate, and Abner Tahil said De Lima, Tan, former National Commission on Muslim Filipinos chairman Mehol Sadain, former NCMF commissioner Edil Baddiri and lawyer Wendell Sotto should face charges for violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.
The complaints alleged that Tan promised Mohammad Sali Said, Jul Ahmad Ahadi, Robin Sahiyal and Mujibar Amon that they would be released from Camp Bagong Diwa if they would testify against Tulawie and Tahil.
Tulawie and Tahil were facing charges at the time in connection with a bombing in Patikul, Sulu in 2009, said to be an assassination attempt against Tan.
Tulawie and Tahil said the release of the inmates was part of the “shadowy dealings” of the respondents to pin them down in the bombing incident.
However, the ombudsman said there was no evidence showing that the respondents knew each other to motivate them to enter into a conspiracy.
There was no evidence that Said, Ahadi, Sahiyal and Amon are Abu Sayyaf bandits or that the respondents knew them as such, the court added.