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By APD writer Melo M. Acuna
MANILA, June 9 (APD) – The Malaysian Court of Appeals has decided to set free 13 Filipinos earlier accused of violence in Lahad Datu some four years ago while imposing the death penalty to nine others.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported that the Court of Appeals in Putrajaya, Malaysia heard the appeals from the prosecution and defense on an earlier decision of the High Court (lower court) of Sabah and Sarawak in a three-day marathon hearing which ended yesterday.
The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision setting free 13 Filipinos of various crimes related to treason and terrorism.
In a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Court of Appeals likewise affirmed the decision convicting nine Filipinos of waging war against the king.
It also reversed the lower court’s imposition of life imprisonment and opted to implement their death penalty.
The DFA said all is not lost because the Court of Appeals’ decision is to be discussed by the Federal Court of Malaysia (Supreme Court) under automatic appeal or review.
It was learned the Philippine government extended all legal and other forms of assistance to the defendants from the trial stage to the appeal and will still continue to extend assistance as their cases moves on.
The militants have staked claims on the Borneo, the northern resource-rich island of Malaysia claiming to be representatives of the Sultan of Sulu.
The intruders numbered from 100 to 300 and after a series of clashes, 19 of the Filipino militants died.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
