Isabela city: A court in Isabela City, Basilan province has rejected the request of Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Arsina Kahing Nanoh and her co-accused to reinvestigate the criminal cases against them and to annul their warrants of arrest concerning murder and frustrated murder charges.

According to Philippines News Agency, the decision was made on September 10 by Regional Trial Court Branch 2 Presiding Judge Joseph Wee Sit, who dismissed the 'Very Urgent Motions for Reinvestigation and to Recall Warrant of Arrest.' The court also revoked its previous order from August 24 that had temporarily halted law enforcement agencies from executing the warrants.

"The warrant of arrest issued against the accused in this case is declared in full force and effect," the court ruled. Those charged include Mayor Nanoh, her husband Nadz Nanoh, Walihiul Allama, Hadji Rahim Kahim, Lucman Kahing, Tudy Bayro, Singh Hassan, and seven John Does.

The legal proceedings originate from an incident on May 12, 2025, near Barangay Sangay Big, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, which led to the deaths of Ben Bakil, Murasidol Abdurahman, and Samir Jamiri Allil, and injured several others. Abdurahman served as a poll watcher at the May 12 midterm elections, while Bakil and Allil supported former Hadji Muhtamad mayor Jamar Mansul, who was contesting against Nanoh.

Court documents list Criminal Case Nos. 9965 and 9966 for frustrated murder and 9967 for murder. The accused sought a reinvestigation citing 'newly obtained evidence,' referencing a November 2025 police administrative decision that labeled the incident as a legitimate encounter and cleared certain police personnel of administrative liability.

The court dismissed this argument, pointing out that the decision was accessible months before prosecutors issued their July 2 resolution advocating charges. It also emphasized that the police decision pertained to the administrative liability of individuals not implicated in the criminal cases, not the criminal responsibility of Nanoh and her co-accused.

Additionally, the court dismissed objections to the authority of the prosecutors who conducted the preliminary investigation and upheld its previous determination of probable cause against the accused. "The circumstances in this case clearly point to the existence of probable cause," the court noted.

With the ruling on September 10, the warrants of arrest against Mayor Nanoh, her husband, and the other co-accused are fully effective and can be executed by law enforcement authorities.