Lawyer wants Muslim judge to handle Misuari's trial

A lawyer representing Nur Misuari, the imprisoned former governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, said he wanted a Muslim judge from the southern Philippines to handle the rebellion charges brought against Misuari.

"A Muslim judge can give Misuari a fair trial. The rebellion case should not be assigned to anybody else even if the Supreme Court has allowed that a special court be created near Misuari's detention centre for the holding of the trial in Sta. Rosa, Laguna," said Abbas.

Judge Bagis Ismael at the Regional Trial Court in Jolo was first assigned to handle the case. Bagis scheduled an arraignment for Misuari in Jolo on February 4.

The schedule was made a day after the Supreme Court said the trial should be held in southern Luzon and not in Jolo. At that time, the justice department had not yet made a move on who will handle the case. "A change of the trial venue should not mean that the justice should also be changed," said Senator Aquilino Pimentel.

Meanwhile, observers are criticising the manner in which the Supreme Court has chosen Justice Norberto Gonzales to handle the case.

Mashur Bin-Jundam, a University of the Philippines professor on Islamic Studies said there will be a "miscarriage of justice, the Supreme Court ruling is pre-cooked", adding the miscarriage of justice began with the Supreme Court ruling.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) started the construction of the special court in Laguna three days after the Apex Court issued its ruling on January 22, said Bin Jundam. "Was the court's resolution a foregone conclusion?" he asked.

Organisers have scheduled mass protests in front of the Supreme Court starting Monday, January 29.

The Concerned Citizens of Sulu (CCS) have begun a signature campaign questioning the Supreme Court's ruling, especially the appointment of a judge to handle the case. "It seems the government has made up its mind to convict Misuari," said CCS chair, Kokoy Tulawie.

The lawyers vowed to press for Misuari's right to a public trial, and for the reversal of the Supreme Court ruling.

Holding the trial in Laguna would be "too expensive" on the part of government, which has to take care of securing the area, and most especially, on the part of the accused, because he has to present at least 100 witnesses, the lawyers argued.

"Hordes of sympathisers and media practitioners will converge on Laguna and the government may spend more for security," said Abbas.