Second suspect in slaying of Irish priest arrested

PARANG, Maguindanao — Two down, four to go.

Government forces pursuing the suspected killers of Irish priest Rufus Halley arrested on Thursday another suspect, the second of six to fall into the hands of authorities.

Senior Superintendent Omar Ali, operations chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police, identified the suspect as Canal Macapodi, the alleged lookout during the botched kidnapping of Halley which resulted in the priest’s death.

A combined contingent of ARMM policemen, Marine soldiers and civilian volunteers, chanced on Macapodi at Barangay Upper Bomba in Malabang, about two hours’ hike from the scene where Halley was killed on Tuesday.

Ali said police are now cautiously questioning Macapodi to establish probable cause to charge him for Halley’s killing but Ali said the suspect also has other pending cases in court.

"If there is evidence that will show he was also involved in the atrocity, appropriate charges will be filed against him. Meanwhile, what holds now are the standing cases against him in the local courts," Ali said.

Macapodi’s arrest came amid growing public indignation over Halley’s murder in Lanao del Sur, especially among the ethnic Maranaw who have been flocking from various towns in the province to pay their last respects to the Columban missionary.

The provincial board of predominantly-Muslim Maguindanao will pass in its session next week a strongly-worded resolution condemning Halley’s murder, according to Vice Gov. Datu Bimbo Sinsuat, who vowed to author the resolution himself.

Halley, 57, worked for over 20 years for the Malabang parish and was fluent in several local dialects.

He was also actively involved in promoting dialogue between Muslims and Christians in the predominantly Muslim towns of Malabang and nearby Balabagan.

Halley’s remains were brought by motor convoy from Malabang to Cagayan de Oro yesterday morning for burial today.

Macapodi was the second suspect to be arrested after lawmen, led by Malabang Mayor Anwar Balindong, arrested on Wednesday afternoon Abdulsamad Ibrahim, the driver of the getaway vehicle that was to be used in spiriting the priest away.

Ibrahim is now detained at the headquarters of the 1505th Provincial Police Mobile Company.

Ibrahim admitted that he was the driver of a World War II-vintage military truck and that all his accomplices were members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), currently holding peace negotiations with the government.

Ibrahim told investigators the kidnappers, who paid him to drive the truck, planned to turn over Halley to the Abu Sayyaf extremist rebels.

Several witnesses, including teachers and students of a school near where the killing took place Tuesday afternoon, tagged Ibrahim as one of the suspects.

Halley was riding his motorcycle on a dirt road in Malabang when he was accosted by the suspects, reportedly led by Atto Sumagayan Daing, eldest son of former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander Datu Daing.

Gunting said the attackers tried to drag Halley into their truck, but the priest managed to kick one of his assailants who fell to the ground.

Halley tried to run away but was shot in the head and body by Daing with an M-16 rifle. The attackers fled after the shooting.

Ali claimed the suspects sought refuge at the MILF’s Camp Jubal Nul to evade pursuing lawmen. The MILF denied that the suspected killers belonged to their group, but did not comment on allegations that the suspects were hiding inside one of their camps.

Ali said they could not arrest the suspects in view of a standing ceasefire agreement between the MILF and the government.