Abu Sayyaf Group

Nur Misuari not yet off the hook in case of terror suspect Susukan

Rambo Talabong

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Nur Misuari not yet off the hook in case of terror suspect Susukan

ARRESTED. Indal Susukan is arrested in Davao City. Davao City Police photo

(UPDATED) 'We are trying to find out how Susukan ended up under Misuari's custody,' says Davao City police chief Colonel Kirby John Kraft

(UPDATED) The Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating why Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari was with top Abu Sayyaf commander Indang Susukan in Davao City before the terror suspect’s arrest last August 13.

In a phone interview with Rappler on Monday, August 17, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief Colonel Kirby Kraft said they were looking into the circumstances behind Susukan’s presence in the city.

The fugitive Susukan, who faced 34 arrest warrants and was linked to the beheading of Malaysian and Canadian hostages, was in Misuari’s custody in Davao City when authorities got wind of his presence there.

Misuari did not inform the police or the military that Susukan was with him.

Misuari is an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, who assigned him special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference.

“We are trying to find out how Susukan ended up under Misuari’s custody,” Kraft told Rappler. (READ: Lacson hits ‘politics’ in Misuari’s handover of Abu Sayyaf leader)

In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it was “highly unlikely” that Misuari would be held criminally liable for having Susukan in his custody, although he admitted he did not know much about the situation.

Di ko po alam actual circumstance bakit naroroon si Susukan. Ang pagkakaintindi ko po, it was chairman Nur Misuari who arranged the surrender so hindi naman po siya nagkanlong talaga. But I do not know for sure,” Roque said. “In case of criminal liability, highly unlikely po… Hindi po nahuli si Susukan dahil tinatago ni Misuari.”

What we know so far

According to Kraft, the police only found out about Susukan’s presence in Davao City through an August 13 report carried by Inquirer.net that said Susukan was spotted with Misuari in Duterte’s hometown.

Kraft said the police reached out to the MNLF through a liaison police officer, before they arranged the turnover of Susukan.

The PNP is also investigating how long Susukan and Misuari were in Davao. Both are from Sulu.

Since his arrest, Susukan has been transferred to Camp Crame in Quezon City, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police. He was wanted with 34 arrest warrants against him for crimes in the Philippines and Malaysia. – with a report from Sofia Tomacruz/Rappler.com

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Rambo Talabong

Rambo Talabong covers the House of Representatives and local governments for Rappler. Prior to this, he covered security and crime. He was named Jaime V. Ongpin Fellow in 2019 for his reporting on President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. In 2021, he was selected as a journalism fellow by the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics.