Police and military authorities surrounded the Hall of Justice in Zamboanga City on Tuesday during a trial hearing against Abu Sayyaf leaderKhair Mundos.
The Zamboanga nurse, Precisosa Feliciano, who was kidnapped in 2008 by the leader and his family, arrived in the city on Tuesday morning from New York with two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in tow.
Feliciano was kept inside the Western Mindanao Command centre upon arrival – she was scheduled to testify against Mundos late Tuesday afternoon.
The testimony of the nurse is part of a long string of hearings held against Mundos and others which started last Monday.
Tensions were high as the police and military were in full battle gear, guarding the area two hours before the hearing was scheduled to start.
During the trial, Feliciano positively identified Mundos and his partner Azra and two individuals as the group who abducted her in 2008.
The trial is expected to last months even with Feliciano’s testimonial