96th suspect in Maguindanao massacre arrested; 100 still at large
MANILA, Philippines—Ninety-six down, 100 more to go.
Operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested on Wednesday another suspect accused of taking part in the 2009 massacre of at least 57 persons in Maguindanao.
The arrest of Sahid A. Guiamadel, alias Jun Aliman, on Wednesday afternoon, brought to 96 the number of persons arrested by the PNP in connection to the massacre. Some 100 others remain at large.
In a statement, the CIDG said Guiamadel was one of the civilian bodyguards of former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who, along with other members of his clan, was tagged as a mastermind in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre in the town named after their family.
CIDG director Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. said he was arrested at about 4:30 p.m. at the Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Barangay Amay, Kidapawan City, by joint CIDG elements.
Guiamadel was on duty as a security guard at the hospital when he was arrested by the CIDG.
CIDG’s Special Investigation Task Group “Maguindanao” Commander, Chief Supt. Benito Estipona said Guiamadel’s own cousin, “who apparently got interested with the reward money,” tipped authorities to his whereabouts.
The suspect carried a P250,000 reward on his heads for his arrest, pursuant to Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2010-53.
Estipona added that with the arrest of Guiamadel, the CIDG had already accounted for almost half of the total number of suspects involved in the Maguindanao massacre.
He said he directed the tracker teams to concentrate their operations against members of the Ampatuan clan who remained at large.
Several members of the Ampatuan clan, including the patriarch Andal Sr. and his sons, are on trial for their alleged roles in the massacre of 57 persons, including 31 journalists. The body of the 58th victim, photojournalist Reynaldo Momay, has not been recovered.
