Cop tagged in massacre sent to Bicutan

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City judge has ordered the detention in Camp Bagong Diwa of a police officer recently arrested for his alleged participation in the Maguindanao massacre.

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 221 issued the commitment order for the transfer of Police Officer 1 Warden Legawan, of the 1507th Provincial Police Mobile Group, from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) detention center to the Quezon City Jail Annex in Taguig.  

Legawan is the 110th suspect arrested for the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre case. The suspects are facing multiple murder charges.  

Reyes also ordered Legawan’s custodian to bring him to court on the morning of May 12 for his arraignment.

Chief Inspector Rodolfo Gonzales, head of the investigation section of the CIDG’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, had earlier reported that his unit arrested Legawan on May 7 in the vicinity of the Bicutan exit on Gen. Santos Avenue, Bicutan.

Legawan was then brought to the CIDG detention center in Camp Crame.

Last week, members of the Maguindanao Provincial Public Safety Company arrested Inspector Saudi Mokamad, former head of 1507th Provincial Police Mobile Group at the boundary of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

Eighty-seven suspects charged for the massacre have yet to be arrested.