SENATORS, led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, welcomed Mohammad Maca-Antal Said (center) during a brief suspension of session Wednesday, February 7, 2024, following his release from detention.
Said, the 62-year-old Muslim who was arrested last August 2023 over a case of mistaken identity, was released after his name was cleared with the assistance of Zubiri, Minority Leader Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, Sen. Robinhood Padilla, and the support of 21 other senators.
The story started when operatives of NBI-International Airport Investigation Division (NBI-IAID) nabbed Mohammad Maca-Antal Said, also known as Amah Maas, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 by virtue of a warrant of arrest for kidnapping with homicide.
It said Said was intercepted on August 10 due to an Interpol Red Notice when he was bound for Kuala Lumpur.
It added the division discovered that Said has existing warrants of arrest.
The NBI said it found that Said was charged with the killing of two marines in Patikul, Sulu during an encounter with state forces on July 28, 2011.
Seven marines were killed while 26 marines were injured during the encounter.
Meanwhile, according to the NBI, Said was also charged with 25 counts of frustrated murder, murder for three separate cases, kidnapping with murder, kidnap or serious illegal detention, kidnapping with homicide, and two counts of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
