Maguindanao massacre probers to formulate strategy against bogus tipsters

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The special team investigating the 2009 Maguindanao massacre said Thursday it would formulate a new strategy to arrest the 92 remaining suspects in the killing following reports that some informants allegedly made money for giving information which resulted in the arrest of the wrong person.

Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said the CIDG observed a “pattern” wherein a supposed suspect identified by an informant would produce pertinent documents to prove that he was not among the accused only after the money reward has been released.

Because of this, Pagdilao said it would review the identities and personal profiles of the remaining suspects amid difficulties in the identification process following 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 said that their team has confirmed that some of the remaining suspects were in hiding in MILF areas.

Pagdilao said the MILF, through Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Ghadzali Jaafar, gave their team an assurance that they would help in tracking down the 92 massacre suspects.

At present, nine of the alleged principal suspects have been accounted for and were facing 56 counts of murder before Judge Jocelyn Reyes-Solis of the Quezon City regional trial court, along with 103 others now under detention.

Among the suspected principal suspects were 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 massacred and whose bodies were recovered from a mass grave in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.