Maguindanao massacre suspect nabbed in Taguig

MANILA, Philippines - A former policeman, charged with 57 counts of murder in connection with the Maguindanao massacre, was arrested in Bicutan, Taguig City Wednesday night.

Former Police Officer 1 Warden Legawan was apprehended along Gen. Santos Avenue in Bicutan by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group police officers, according to CIDG chief Director Benjamin Magalong. He was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes.

Legawan is also the subject of an arrest warrant by Cotabato Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Bansawan Ibrahim Al Haj on charges of malversation of government property after he failed to return his government-issued firearms, Magalong said.

Legawan, who has a bounty of P250,000 on his head, became the 115th suspect arrested in connection with the Maguindanao massacre.

Magalong said eight more former police officers are being hunted down by the CIDG in connection with the Nov. 23, 2009 bloodbath.

2 others arraigned

Meanwhile, two other suspects charged in connection with the massacre pleaded not guilty to multiple murder charges filed against them.

Inspector Saudi Mokamad – former officer-in-charge of the 1507th Provincial Police Mobile Group and the latest suspect arrested for the massacre – pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on all 58 counts of murder filed against him on Wednesday.

Suspect Takpan Dilon, meanwhile, entered a not guilty plea on the 58th murder case during his arraignment yesterday. He earlier pleaded not guilty to the other 57 charges.

Mokamad is the 109th suspect arrested for the incident. He was arrested by members of the Maguindanao Provincial Public Safety Company at the boundary of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur on April 26.