Complaint Review: Muslimin G Sema

COTABATO CITY, Philippines The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed criminal charges against Muslimin Gampong Sema and Bai Sandra Sinsuat Sema in the October 17, 2011 murder of Abdul Hassan in Poblacion 1 Cotabato.

The complaint sheet named Muslimin Gampong Sema and bai Sandra Sinsuat Sema as responsible for the murderof Abdul Hassan.

Official documents of the charges were delivered by combined operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation and the local Philippine National Police to the provincial prosecutors office in Kidapawan City.

Abdul Hassan was to leave for Kidapawan City when a gunman approached him while he was to board his vehicle, pulled out a 9MM pistol, and shot him 10 times in different parts of his body, killing him on the spot.

Lawyer Virgilio Mendez, deputy director for regional operations of NBIs office in Region 10, said they have sufficient evidence linking Muslimin Gampong Sema and Bai Sandra Sinsuat Sema to the murder of Abdul Hassan.

Abdul Hassan was critical about the encroachment of capitalists attempting to venture into various profit-oriented projects in supposedly protected ancestral domains of hinterland tribes in Arakan and surrounding towns located at the foot of Mt.Apo.

He gained popularity for his activities meant to generate awareness among tribal communities to protect all natural resources --- forests, rivers and strategic minerals --- that can be found inside their tribal enclaves moneyed outsiders are interested in.

We have enough evidence indicating that Muslimin G Sema and Bai Sandra Sinsuat Sema were involved in that crime, Mendez said, referring to Sema.

So immensely popular was the murdered Abdul Hassan that thousands joined the burial march when he was laid to rest in Kidapawan City, beside the grave of a slain compatriot.