A key suspect in the Philippines' worst mass killing that claimed 58 lives was arrested Saturday in the country's southern province of North Cotabato, police said on Sunday.
The suspect, Bong S. Andal, was the alleged operator of the backhoe used in burying the mass murder victims in Salman village, Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province on Nov. 23, 2009. He was captured on Saturday on the National Highway in Cotabato by a composite team composed of operatives from the Cotabato Police Provincial Office.
Bong Andal did not resist when he was detained, making him the 106th suspect to fall. He was caught after local villagers provided information of him to authorities.
Chief Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Nicanor Bartolome said on Sunday, "The arrest of Andal, and other suspects now in custody manifests the firm resolve of the PNP to arrest and prosecute all suspects behind the mass murder."
With this development, Bartolome instructed PNP units to press manhunt operations against the remaining 92 suspects still at large, even as he noted the efforts of Special Investigation Task Group Maguindanao in shifting manhunt operations to high gear.
On Friday, another suspect in the massacre was arrested as he mingled with families and friends of some victims during the 3rd year commemoration of the carnage in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao.
On Nov. 23, 2009, a convoy of journalists, lawyers and supporters of a local politician was ambushed on a major road in Maguindanao, southern Philippines. They were herded off to a nearby hillside area, shot dead, and buried amass. Police investigators said they have found 58 bodies.
The massacre was reportedly masterminded by members of the Ampatuan political clan. Several members of the Ampatuan clan, including former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., are charged in connection with the killings.