A fiscal from the National Prosecution Service (NPS) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) has junked the rebellion cases filed against the 59 suspected Maute members.
The charges were earlier filed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WESMINCOM).
The fiscal deemed that the criminal complaints lacked evidence to merit the filing of formal cases in court.
In their counter-affidavits, the respondents claimed that they were not members of the Maute group.
They said they were recruited and made to believe they were joining the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
The 59 men were arrested on July 25, 2017 in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City.
They are currently detained in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre says, WESMINCOM may still file a motion for reconsideration (MR) if the military can present new evidence to prove that the suspects were involved in the rebellion in Marawi City.