Roda Killers Identified

(Published in Zamboanga Today on January 24, 2008.)

Police authorities are now eyeing the Abu Sayyaf Group under commander Murphy Ladja, a certain ASG member with alias Seven Colors, and a retired policeman (name withheld pending further investigation) as the perpetrators behind the killing of Oblates of Mary Immaculate priest and Notre Dame School of Tabawan director Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda and the kidnapping of a faculty member on January 15 this year.

Reliable sources from Tawi-Tawi identified Ladja, a speedboat owner, who is based in Siasi, Sulu, as the leader behind the heavily armed group that also kidnapped during the same incident Notre Dame School teacher Omar Taub who remains in their captivity as of press time. Local and regional police authorities however decline to reveal added information so as not to hamper its pursuit operations and endanger further the security of the kidnapped Muslim teacher.

Meanwhile, in his testimony before police investigators, regional intelligence operatives, and legal representatives, recently arrested Abu Sayyaf Group sub-commander Usman Asari, a.k.a. Ben, had earlier disclosed that Ladja, a losing candidate in the recent barangay elections for chairmanship, is based in Pandami in Siasi town, and “still has armed followers and protected by police and highly influential warlords and politicians in Sulu.”

In testifying that Ladja was involved in the Sipadan kidnapping in 1998, Asari had further identified his and Ladja’s companions then to be Commander Anni Agga, Jul Hassan, Issat Abbas, Ayyub Ladja, Faizal Ladja, a certain Hamid, a certain Sabtula, a certain Urin, Sizar, and a certain Abdulla Salip.

Asari was arrested on January 11 at about 11 in the morning by joint elements of the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office 9, the Zamboanga City Police Office, and the Intelligence Bureau of the Office for the Transportation and Security of the Department of Transportation and Communication.

Asari, a Jolo-based Abu Sayyaf Group member then with a pending warrant of arrest docketed at criminal cases nos. 3217-979 issued by Judge Danilo Bucoy for the crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention, was caught within the vicinity of the Zamboanga City port after disembarking from M/V Trisha Christine II which then docked after a voyage from Tawi-Tawi. Four days after Asari’s arrest in Zamboanga City, Roda was killed in Tabawan, South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi.

While admitting involvement at the Sipadan kidnapping, Asari denied active participation in the kidnapping incident on March 20, 2000, wherein more or less fifty students of Claret School of Tumahubong, Basilan, were abducted and held captives in ASG lairs at Punoh Mahaji along with Claret School Director Fr. Rhoel Gallardo.

The ASG sub-commander is now detained in Bicutan Jail in Taguig City since he was transported by RIID operatives to the Department of Justice in Manila. His case will be tried at the Pasig Regional Trial Court before the sala of Judge Agnes Reyes Carpio of Branch 261. (Frencie L. Carreon/January 23, 2008)