CIDG Director Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The special investigation team on the 2009 Maguindanao massacre said Thursday it will formulate a new strategy in running after the 92 suspects still at large following reports that some informants allegedly made money for giving information which resulted only in the arrest of wrong persons.
Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said the CIDG observed a “pattern” in which a supposed suspect identified by an informant will produce pertinent documents to prove that he is not among the accused in the massacre case only after the money reward has been released to the mole.
To this, Pagdilao said it will review the identities and personal profiles of the remaining suspects amid difficulties in the identification process following reports that some of the suspects have assumed different names.
Pagdilao directed SITG “Maguindanao” chief, Police Senior Superintendent Keith Ernald Singian, to initiate the conduct of operational research, adding that CIDG hopes to get assistance from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as well as from local government leaders in coming up with an updated list of suspects.
Singian earlier said that their team has confirmed that some of the remaining suspects are hiding in MILF areas.
Pagdilao said the MILF, through vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar, gave their team an assurance that they will help in tracking down the 92 massacre suspects.
At present, nine of the alleged principal suspects are already accounted for and are facing 56 counts of murder before Judge Jocelyn Reyes-Solis of Quezon City Regional Trial Court, along with 103 others who are now under detention.
Among the suspected principal suspects are Datu Akmad “Toto” Ampatuan Sr., Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., Datu Anwar Ampatuan, Datu Sajidb Ampatuan, Datu Zaldy “Puti” Ampatuan, Esmael Canapia, Takpan Dilon, Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan and Datu Anwar Upam Ampatuan alias “Ulo” who was arrested last August 28 in BF Resort, Las Piñas City.
Fifty eight persons, including 32 journalists, were killed in the massacre, whose bodies were recovered from a mass grave in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009.