Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman said he believes the Philippine National Police (PNP) fabricated its claims against Hadji Faisal Abdulkarim, whom they arrested recently and tagged as an “Abu Sayyaf sub-leader.”

In a phone interview with Rappler on Monday, December 14, Hataman said Abdulkarim could not be a leader or even a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) because his family fought against terrorists.

“I am sure the allegation is fabricated. One of his sons is a member of the CAFGU (Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit, a paramilitary unit), and another is a barangay captain. In their areas, they are the ones who fight against the ASG,” Hataman said.

The PNP branded Abdulkarim as a terrorist in a statement on Saturday, December 12. They said he was arrested early Saturday morning in Basilan over a killing of a barangay official in 2014.

Hataman acknowledged that the police might have obtained a valid warrant of arrest against Abdulkarim because he was previously involved in rido or clan feuds.

“What’s wrong here is that they used the warrant, this problem, to declare him as an ASG sub-leader. That is a big lie,” Hataman said.

He added: “The police need to be investigated.”

The lawmaker said that this was not the first time that Mindanao police were involved in questionable operations. He said he had reported incidents to the police’s top commanders but he was met with silence.

In his press briefing on Monday, December 14, PNP chief General Debold Sinas said the police stood by their records about Abdulkarim. He added that he will “coordinate” with Hataman to clarify the matter. – Rappler.com