SC frees massacre suspect

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the release of a suspect in the Maguindanao massacre who claimed to be a victim of mistaken identity.

The Quezon City court handling the multiple murder case recently received a copy of a 21-page SC resolution that granted the petition for review filed by Datukan Malang Salibo.

Salibo, who was mistaken for suspect Butukan Malang, was released from detention at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig on June 26 after the high court granted his petition for habeas corpus.

The SC ruled that officers of the Datu Hofer police station in Maguindanao had no probable cause to arrest Salibo without a warrant.

“They deprived him of his right to liberty without due process of the law, for which a petition for habeas corpus may be issued,” the SC ruling read.

Salibo was arrested on Aug. 3, 2010 after the police determined that he was the same suspect named Butukan Malang, who was wanted for the Nov. 23, 2009 bloodbath.

Salibo insisted he was not Malang, saying he was on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia from Nov. 7 to Dec. 19, 2009.

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 153 initially granted his petition for habeas corpus, but the Court of Appeals issued a reversal and ordered his continued detention.

Salibo brought the case to the high court, which ruled in his favor.

The SC resolution was penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. Justices Antonio Carpio, Arturo Brion, Mariano del Castillo and Jose Mendoza concurred with the ruling.

Following the release of Salibo, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes issued another warrant for Malang’s arrest.

Malang was among the initial 197 people charged for the massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people including 32 media workers.

The victims were on their way to Shariff Aguak to file the certificate of candidacy of then Buluan vice mayor and now Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu when they were blocked and slaughtered by more than 100 men.

Among those charged were members of the Ampatuan clan, who were accused of masterminding the massacre.