Another massacre suspect nabbed in Sarangani

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY, Philippines–Another suspect in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre has been arrested, the police in Sarangani province said Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Teofil Remodaro, police chief of Glan town, said the suspect was identified as Abdullah Dimanao, 33, a resident of Barangay Balitan, Glan.

Remodaro said Dimanao was arrested on a warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn delos Reyes.

The police official said Dimanao did not resist arrest but denied involvement in the massacre in Ampatuan town on Nov. 23, 2009 that left 58 persons, 32 of whom were media workers.

He said Dimanao is being detained at the Glan police holding facility pending his transfer to Manila.

Dimanao’s arrest leaves more than 80 other suspects still at large.

Among those currently detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City are members of the influential Ampatuan clan, including its patriarch former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son and namesake, former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Jr., the primary suspect in the bloodbath, considered the worst case of election-related violence in the country’s history.