Kin seek arrest of remaining Maguindanao massacre suspects

AMPATUAN, Maguindanao (PNA) – Relatives of the 58 victims of the Maguindanao massacre have asked government security forces to arrest the remaining suspects in the carnage who have remained at-large.

Relatives of slain journalists and the family of Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu marked the eighth year of the massacre in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao, and offered prayers and released white balloons in remembrance of their loved ones slain in the November 23, 2009 incident.

Mangudadatu, who lost his wife Genalyn in the massacre along with eight other women relatives, said three or four close relatives of primary suspect Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. are still at-large.

Mangudadatu said he and the relatives of other victims are optimistic that President Rodrigo Duterte will help fast track the resolution of cases against the suspects, including the arrest all massacre suspects.

The governor cited reports that some of the suspects, grandsons of the late Governor Andal Sr., had joined the local terrorists group with links to the Islamic State (IS).

Marino Ridao of Cotabato City who lost his son Tony in the incident, said he was not losing hope that justice will be served.

“Hopefully, under President Duterte’s term, justice for the victims is finally served,” said Ridao, 87, who added that it was his desire that the case be resolved while he was still alive.

Ivy Maravilla, wife of Ernesto, a journalist of Bombo Radyo in Koronadal City, was one of those killed, vowed she will not stop fighting for justice for her husband and other massacre victims.

Thirty-two journalists and media workers joined a convoy of Mangudadatu’s wife and relatives in filing his certificate on candidacy on Nov. 23, 2009 in Shariff Aguak town.

But the convoy was stopped by the heavily armed Andal Jr and his militia. The victims were herded and executed at Sitio Masalay, a mountainous area in Ampatuan town.

Andal Jr., his father and siblings, including former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, were jailed at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig in connection with the incident. Andal Sr. died while in detention at the maximum security prison facility.

More than 100 of the 197 identified suspects are now detained and face prosecution.