The Armed Forces of the Philippines will help the Philippine National Police locate and arrest 80 suspects in the infamous Maguindanao massacre who remain at-large.
“The AFP vigorously supports the PNP in law enforcement operations as in the previous cases. The manhunt for the remaining suspects in the Maguindanao massacre who are still at-large is no different,” said Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo.
Arevalo said the military will mobilize concerned units to aid the PNP in its goal of arresting the suspects and bringing them before the court.
“Where the AFP’s help is needed, in the interest of peace and order to protect our people and secure the State, we will commit all available resources to locate and arrest fugitives from justice,” he stated.
Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, said Friday that the police would seek the help of the military, especially those based in the southern Philippines, to arrest the suspects in the Maguindanao massacre who continue to roam free.
“Ito’y hamon sa PNP na alamin ang kanilang estado,” Banac said as he raised the possibility that some of the suspects may have fled the country, died, or changed their physical appearance in the course of 10 years.
Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes convicted 43 persons – including brothers Datu Zaldy and Datu Andal “Unsay” Jr., who were the sons of the late Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. – involved in the Maguindanao massacre.
Fifty-seven others in the case were acquitted. Eighty remain at large.
The Maguindanao massacre occurred on Nov. 23, 2009 in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Fifty-eight persons were killed, including 32 journalists.
The victims were part of a convoy that accompanied the group of then Buluan, Maguindanao Vice Mayor now Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu in filing his Certificate of Candidacy for the 2010 gubernatorial election.
It is considered the worst incident of media and election-related killing in the Philippine history, and even shocked the world. (Martin A. Sadongdong)