Police arrest fourth Maguindanao Massacre suspect

January 28, 2020

Police on Monday arrested another suspect in the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

Soccsksargen police personnel arrested Police Officer 1 Suari Esmail Pagabangan at his hideout in the boundaries of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Sa Barongis, Maguindano around 12:30 p.m.

Pagabangan, the fourth suspect arrested after a court handed down its ruling last December, has a P300,000 bounty.

Lt. Col. Barney Condes, commander of the regional mobile force battalion, said Pagabangan has been under surveillance for a week.

“There was information received that the suspect has been monitored in the area of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao,” he said.

Pagabangan will be turned over to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 that issued the arrest warrant.

Pagabangan was among the nearly 80 suspects who were at large when the court handed down its verdict on the massacre in December.

A total of 57 people, including 32 members of print and broadcast outfits , died in the 2009 massacre. DMS