Maguindanao del Sur mayor, wife arrested for vice mayor slay

Authorities arrested the mayor of South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur and his wife in Barangay Making in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Photo from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group)

MANILA, Philippines — The mayor of South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur and his wife were arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing of his vice mayor in August last year.

Authorities made the arrest in Barangay Making in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte on Tuesday, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in a statement on Wednesday.

The arrest stemmed from a warrant for murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Cotabato City last Monday, the CIDG said.

“In November 2024, the SITG (special investigation task group) filed criminal complaints… against 12 accused, including the mayor and his wife, for their alleged participation as alleged ‘masterminds’ in the planning and orchestration of the ambush,” the police unit further detailed.

Although the CIDG did not name the two suspects, the incumbent mayor of South Upi is Reynalbert Insular.

The CIDG did not give further details about the 10 other individuals accused.

READ: Vice mayor, escort, slain in Maguindanao del Sur ambush

The ambush took place in Sitio Linao in Barangay Pandan, South Upi on the early evening of August 2, killing Vice Mayor Roldan Benito and his aide Weng Marcos.

The incident also left Benito’s wife, Analyn, a barangay chairperson, and his 11-year-old child injured with gunshot wounds.