Gov’t prosecutors drop criminal complaint vs alleged ISIS recruiter and Filipina

March 7, 2018

Government prosecutors dismissed a criminal complaint filed by the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines against an alleged recruiter of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and his Filipina partner.

In a resolution, the justice department through Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong dismissed for lack of merit illegal possession of explosive devices and firearms complaint filed by the National Capital Region Police Office against Tunisian national Fehmi Lassqued and his partner Anabel Salipada.

“After a careful review and evaluation of the evidence submitted by the parties, the undersigned finds no probable cause to charge respondents for violations of R.A. 10591 and R.A. No. 9516,” stated the resolution.

Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr. and Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Rassenell Rex Gingoyon approved the resolution.

“Basic and well-established is the rule that the party alleging has the burden of substantiating his allegation and any declaration or assertion not so substantiated is, at best, a self-serving statement or declaration which is inadmissible in evidence for being hearsay,” it stressed.

Lassqued and Salipada were arrested in Ermita, Manila last Feb. 16 by joint operatives of the PNP and the Philippine Army using a search warrant from the Makati City Regional Trial Court.

In his counter-affidavit, Lassqued said he was not arrested in Ermita, Manila but at Ayala Triangle on Feb. 16, while he was taking a cigarette break from a Spanish class.

“Even if the subject gun, ammunition and other items will be subjected to finger print examinations, my marks cannot be found there because I never touched it, held it or possessed it,” Lassqued said.

Salipada also denied owning the explosive devices and the firearm. DMS