Senator Robin Padilla has demanded justice for a 62-year-old Muslim arrested in August over a case of mistaken identity because the person had the same name as a man who has nine warrants of arrest.
In his privilege speech, Padilla questioned the case of “mistaken identity” and possible discrimination against Mohammad Maca-Antal Said who was arrested on August 10.
“Mr. President, I am bringing this to your attention so we can give justice to this elderly Muslim who up to now remains behind bars. We inquired about his case before the courts, but they said we have to follow procedures,” he said “What procedures are there to follow when the one he is confused with has been dead? I cannot understand,” he said.
Padilla further said: “If we want to restore public trust and form a just society, no Filipino should suffer the same fate as Said.”
Padilla said Said, who is also called “Tatay Mohammad” was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 as he was preparing to depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
But he said “Tatay Mohammad,” who hails from Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, happened to have the same name as one Mohammad Said a.k.a. Ama Maas who had nine warrants for his arrest. Padilla also said “Tatay Mohammad” and Ama Maas look very different.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) meanwhile clarified its role in the interception of Filipinos with arrest warrants in ports of entry and exit, saying the bureau is not mandated to arrest Filipinos.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco made the clarification after Padilla raised the concern in his privilege speech over the arrest of a foreigner at the NAIA.
Padilla mentioned the case of Said, who reportedly arrested by the BI after attempting to depart for Malaysia last August 10.
Tansingco clarified that arresting Filipinos is not within the BI’s mandate. Immigration officers cannot serve warrants of arrest against Filipinos.
“It is the local law enforcement agencies—the NBI and the PNP—that are authorized to conduct arrests,” said Tansingco.
However, under the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, the BI has the authority to apprehend and detain foreigners pending deportation or resolution of their immigration status. With Vito Barcelo
