RP drops charges against MILF rebels

RP drops charges against MILF rebels

PHILIPPINES: The Philippine government has dropped criminal
charges against 185 Moro separatist guerrillas blamed for the
bombing of an airport and wharf that killed 38 in the south last
year, the military said on Thursday.

The Justice Department dismissed the case against the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels last week in a bid to
speed up peace talks, the military said.

Among those charged with murder and terrorism were Salamat
Hashim, the former leader of the MILF who died last year, and
senior leaders Mohammad Murad, Ghadzali Jaafar, Benjie Midtimbang
and Eid Kabalu.

"The case has recently been dismissed by the Department of
Justice when this (case against MILF) was elevated to their
level, citing the primacy of the peace process," the military
said in a written update on the status of peace talks.

It said the officials took into consideration independent
reports by two commissions that showed a lack of incriminating
evidence against the MILF members. --AFP