New massacre suspect charged today

MANILA, Philippines - Dexson Saptula, a suspect charged for the Maguindanao massacre trial, will be arraigned today for the second time for the 58 counts of murder filed against him in connection with the Nov. 23, 2009 incident.

The second arraignment will happen after the first Saptula, also known as Rene Matuti, was released by the Quezon City court handling the Maguindanao massacre trial last week after it was proven that his arrest was a case of mistaken identity.

Following Matuti’s release, Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes ordered the arraignment of the second Saptula, also known as Mohamad Adam.

The issue of two suspects with the same name started on Nov. 9, 2013 after the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit arrested Adam in Maguindanao.

When he was brought to court, however, police officers found out that a suspect named Saptula was arrested and arraigned for the massacre.

Records show that Matuti was arrested on July 19, 2012 in Sarangani. The court was only told of his arrest on Feb. 20, 2013.

The CIDG and the prosecution panel admitted that Adam, not Matuti, is the real Saptula.

Matuti is the second person proven to be arrested by mistake for the Maguindanao massacre. Last month, Solis-Reyes ordered the release of Jun Aliman after an investigation showed that he is not the Sahid Guiamadel charged for the incident.

The real Guiamadel, also known as Arnel Abdullah, was arrested for illegal possession of firearms in Sultan Kudarat on Feb. 22, 2012. He has yet to be brought to Manila.