THE Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission questioned the arrest of Jafar Gamo Sultan, one of the alleged suspects earlier arrested for the December 3 bombing in the Mindanao State University that left four Catholic worshipers killed and 72 wounded.
Lawyer Nasifah Langlang, Lanao del Sur Provincial Director of the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission said the 25-year-old Gamo was not on the list of the five suspects and three ‘John Does’ earlier identified by the police and the army as responsible for the deadly bombing.
“If Gamo is not on the list, then why should the police and Army arrest him.,” Langlang said.
The family of Gamo is one of the affected residents during the 2017 Marawi siege and is now living at the Hijra Shelter in Barangay Dulay Proper in Marawi City.
Lanao del Sur Police Chief Colonel Robert Daculan said a case of aiding a known terrorist, a violation of the Terrorism Act of 2020, has been filed against Gamo before the Marawi City Prosecution Office Monday afternoon.
Daculan said a separate case of illegal possession of explosives has been filed against Gamo after a small tote bag with traces of explosives was allegedly found in his possession.
“Gamo would be filed under one of the three John Does,” Daculan said.
Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said a police and army team arrested Gamo alias Jaf and Kurot in Barangay Dulay Proper in Marawi City last Friday.
Trinidad said Gamo was allegedly a companion of a certain Omar whom witnesses identified as the person who placed the bomb under the plastic chair during the Mass of Advent at the Dimaporo Gymnasium on the Mindanao State University campus.
A military official who participated in the arrest said Gamo allegedly is one of three persons who acted as lookouts for Omar to get inside the gymnasium.
Police earlier identified Kadapi Mimbesa alias “Engineer” and Arsani Membesa alias “Khatab”, “Hatab” and “Lapitos” as “persons of interest” and want to question them for the bombing.
Gamo’s elder sister Azisah however told Radyo Pilipinas Marawi in an interview that Jafar was at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center preparing for a blood transfusion for a relative.
Langlang said the family of Gamo is not filing a criminal case against the PNP and Army for the wrongful arrest.
“We have interviewed Gamo at the PNP headquarters and he told us he was not tortured,” Langlang said.
She said all Gamo and the family want is for the Army and police to release him as soon as possible.
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