Cops nab suspect in murder of missing Maguindanao student

MANILA, Philippines — The suspect involved the murder of a 20-year-old student in Maguindanao was arrested in Cotabato City on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

Citing reports from PNP Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR), PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas identified the suspect as 22-year-old Rafsanjani Bayona Tatak, alias Datu Raprap Tatak.

Sinas said the arrest came after witnesses told police that Tatak was behind the killing of student Mondjahid Tauf, whose body was recovered in Barangay Kibucay, Upi.

Seized from Tatak was a handgun allegedly used in the murder of the Maguindanao student, Sinas also noted.

According to the victim’s mother, Tatak fetched her son from their house last Dec. 18. Two days later, Tauf was reported missing after he did not return to their home.

On Dec. 21, authorities conducted a follow-up operation which led them to a farm in Barangay Kibucay where the student was killed and buried. Several items owned by the victim were also recovered in the area, police said.

The statement, however, did not mention the motive behind the murder of Tauf.

JE