Another Maguindanao massacre suspect arrested

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Police here announced the arrest of another suspect in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

Chief Supt. Jimmy Daza, regional chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Mindanao (CIDG-CenMin), identified the suspect as Malaguial Tanuri, a resident of Datu Abdullah Sangki town in Maguindanao.

Daza said Malaguial, who used the name “Johari,” was driving his pedicab in Barangay Poblacion, Datu Abdullah Sangki, at 4 p.m. Sunday, when joint Army and PNP agents arrested him. He did not resist arrest.

Daza said the lawmen presented him an arrest warrant issued by Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. Tanuri appeared to be surprised when the lawmen presented him his photo as among the suspects in the 2009 massacre in nearby Ampatuan town in Maguinanao.

Daza said Tanuri told arresting officers that he had nothing to do with the massacre.

Fifty-eight people died on November 23, 2009 massacre, allegedly led by members of the Ampatuan clan.

Tanuri is now detained at CIDG-12 regional office in Cotabato City waiting for transfer to Camp Bagong Diwa. Edwin O. Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao