PNP taps AFP in manhunt of massacre fugitives

The master minds behind the massacre were found guilty.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be seeking the help of the military in tracking down other suspects in the Maguindanao Massacre that are still at large.

“We will be calling on other law enforcement agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to help us because they have a huge presence in Mindanao,” PNP spokesman PBGen. Bernard Banac said in a press briefing Friday.

Banac stressed that the police has not ceased in looking for the 80 fugitives tagged in the celebrated 2009 case, but their chances have been “very slim” due to the minimal information they have regarding the suspects’ whereabouts.

“It’s possible they are being kept or coddled by whoever that’s why they have evaded arrest. It’s also possible they have also assumed a new identity,” he added.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes on 19 December, convicted 42 suspects, including the Ampatuan brothers, for the murder of 58 people on 29 November 2009. Fifty-five suspects were acquitted, while 80 remain on the run from the law.

PNP officer-in-charge PLt. Gen. Archie Gamboa has already directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Intelligence Group (IG), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police to launch massive manhunt operations for the fugitives, including accused dismissed Police Inspector Michael Joy Ines Macaraeg who did not appear during the promulgation of decision last Thursday.

An arrest warrant is now out for Macaraeg.

“Considering the nature of their crime and their continued flight from justice, we presume these fugitives to be armed and dangerous,” Gamboa stated.

Meanwhile, it did not take long for the military to commit to aiding the pursuit against the 80 fugitives.

In a statement, Public Affairs Service chief BGen. Edgard Arevalo said the AFP fully supports the PNP in law enforcement operations as it has always been.

“The manhunt for the remaining suspects in the Maguindanao Massacre who are still at large is no different,” noted Arevalo.

“Where the AFP’s help is needed, in the interest of peace and order to protect our people and secure the state, we will commit all available resources to locate and arrest fugitives from justice,” he concluded.