PNP says at least 80 suspects in Maguindanao Massacre yet to be arrested

December 8, 2019

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified efforts to arrest at least 80 suspects in the Maguindanao Massacre two weeks before a Quezon City court hands down its verdict.

Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, Sunday gave the assurance to the relatives of the 58 people who died in the massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

“The PNP assures the bereaved families and relatives of the Ampatuan massacre that efforts are ongoing and being intensified for the arrest of the suspects who are still at large,” Banac said in a text message.

The PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, is leading manhunt operations to arrest the other suspects.

Records from the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 show only 117 of the 197 suspects in the massacre have been arrested.

Among those who have not been arrested former Salibo town vice mayor Datu Kanor Ampatuan and Datu Bahnarin Ampatuan, the ex-mayor of Mamasapano.

They are the brother and nephew of the deceased clan patriarch, former Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr.

The two are among the 15 suspects surnamed Ampatuan who have yet to be arrested and face trial.

The government has put up a bounty of P300,000 each for their arrest.

Other suspects surnamed Ampatuan namely Datu Haris, Datu Moning, Datu Norodin, Tonny Kenis and Kagi Amar, have the same bounty. Six other suspects with the same surname have a bounty of P250,000 for their arrest. DMS