Massacre suspect eludes arrest

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A suspect in the Maguindanao massacre eluded arrest late Thursday afternoon in a raid on his hideout in Barangay Manungkaling, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

According to the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command, joint elements of the Maguindanao police and the Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion attempted to enforce the warrant of arrest against Madz Utto tagged in the 2009 massacre of 57 people, mostly media workers.

Utto is reportedly being coddled by lawless elements in the area.

The raid resulted though in the recovery of a M-16 rifle, four rifle grenades, a grenade and other items, which are now in the custody of the provincial police.

Brig. Gen. Manuel Ochotorena, assistant commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said more soldiers were deployed to track down Utto, a former member of the Ampatuans’ private militia, and the lawless elements coddling him.

Utto is one of 100 suspects in the massacre who are still at large. The former mayor of Mamasapano town, Bahnarin Ampatuan, grandson of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., is one of them.

Police now have 96 suspects, including members of the Ampatuan clan, in custody. – With John Unson, Jaime Laude