At a press conference in Quezon City, human rights groups condemned the tagging as bombing suspect Temogen Sahipa Tulawie, the provincial chairperson of the Pool of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS).
The groups that organized the Quezon City press conference were the Labor Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), Mindanao Solidarity Network (MSN) and the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA).
"The Labor Force Detainees of the Philippines supports Mr. Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie in his request for justice not simply for himself but for all the multitude of Sulu province whose rights were violated. Being a human rights defender, it is his sentence to both God and the masses to act against human rights violations that endanger his spirit and that of his family," Rita Melecio, TFDP Mindanao team leader said in a statement.
According to the TFDP, Tulawie is a human rights defender,who has been fighting in organizing a local organization named "BAWBUG" - which means "Serve, Respect and Protect" in the Tausug language. Bawbug was effected to hold the rights of Muslim communities affected by military operations in Sulu province.
Tulawie was likewise an active member of Meat for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) since 2004-2008 and a council member of Non-Violent Peace Force (NP), in the province.
"Mr. tulawie`s human rights act is tenacious and impressive, but it has also brought him in collision course with powerful local politicians," Ms. Melecio added.
Mr. Tulawie is facing Multiple Frustrated Murder and Attempted Murder cases - criminal case no. (07-09) 1648-3, and criminal case no. (07-09) 1649-3 at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 3 of Jolo, Sulu, which was filed on July 22,2009, implicating him in the said bombing incident.
According to the TFDP, on May 26, 2009, a certain Mohammad Sulayman Muin and Juhan Alihuddin were arrested and subsequently on forced to take their culpability and consequently named as respondent Mr. Temogen Tulawie and Congressman Arbison of the 2nd District of Sulu as alleged masterminds.
The two allegedly signed separate extra-judicial confessions which they eventually countered on June 29,2009.
Alihuddin executed a counter-affidavit on his earlier confession and categorically denied having known the plans to kill Governor Tan and claimed that he was simply forced to sign the confession by the law and denied he was delineated by counsel during the investigation.
He said the direction was only provided by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), after he had already signed the prepared confession and that the contents of the said extra-judicial confession were false.
Finally TFDP is urging concerned government agencies to immediately conduct an impartial investigation regarding the alleged procurement of false testimonies of the witnesses in pinning down Mr. Tulawie.
"We are also calling for the quick settlement of the Request for Followup and Prohibition he filed at the Section of Justice (DOJ). Uphold his integrity as a human rights defender!" Ms. Melecio concluded. - Egay Cabalitan Jr/LBG, GMANews.TV
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