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Military denies torturing arrested bombing suspect in NCotabato


The military on Sunday denied claims by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is talking peace with the government, that the suspected bomber arrested in Pikit town in North Cotabato last week was tortured. “We assure the public that subject suspect bomber was not tortured," said Lt. Col. Benjamin Hao, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, adding that the suspect was even brought to a hospital for medico-legal purpose after he was turned over to municipal police station in Pikit. He was referring to Daud Ali Rahim, alias Kumander Daud Sarip Milo, who was nabbed last Thursday at the village of Batulawan by a joint Army and police team. On its website, the MILF said government security forces arrested Rahim, who it said was a tricycle driver, without due process. The secessionist group also said the military tortured the suspect. But according to Hao, Rahim was arrested by virtue of a warrants issued by a local court for involvement in at least two bombings. “The 7th IB is open for investigation," Hao said. “The important lesson here is that we have again helped in capturing those perpetrating bombings in Central Mindanao…We will continue to look for bombers." Hao could not immediately say the group affiliation of the suspect as the Army only played a support role to the Philippine National Police in the operation. He said Rahim did not resist arrest. Hao said the suspect was initially brought to the headquarters of the Army’s 602nd Brigade in Carmen town in North Cotabato for custodial debriefing and was turned over to the custody of the Pikit police station the following day. - KBK, GMA News

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