Massacre suspect escapes arrest

MANILA, Philippines - A member of the Ampatuan clan and his men, who are wanted for the massacre of 57 people, mostly journalists, in Maguindanao two years ago, slipped through a police and military dragnet in Maguindanao last weekend, police said yesterday.

Superintendent Jacinto Malinao Jr., chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-ARMM), said Talembo “Tammy” Masukat, one of the suspects in the 2009 massacre, was not around during the raid in Barangay Manungkaling, Mamasapano town.

“Masukat and his group may have sensed the coming of the authorities that they immediately vacated the warehouse and fled toward an unknown direction before the arresting team arrived,” said Malinao in his report to CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr.

Malinao led policemen and members of the Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion in serving a warrant of arrest for Masukat following reports of his presence and several armed men in Barangay Manungkaling.

Masukat’s group left 35 81-mm and 60-mm mortar shells and 163 bullets for caliber .50 machineguns at the site, Malinao said.

He said they are checking reports that the warehouse is owned by Mamasapano Vice Mayor Akmad Ampatuan.

Masukat was named one of the 195 accused in the multiple murder case pending before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

A P300,000 reward has been offered for Masukat’s arrest.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, director of Task Force Maguindanao, said 92 of the 195 accused have been accounted for since the court ordered their arrest.

Of the 92 accused, seven are members of the Ampatuan clan tagged as the alleged masterminds of the massacre. – With Non Alquitran