Suspect in Davao mayor’s slay arrested

DAVAO CITY — One of the alleged killers of Maitum Mayor George Yabes was arrested in Sultan Kudarat and is reportedly under police custody.

Abdul Basar was apprehended by members of the Philippine Army’s 1002nd Brigade based in Sultan Kudarat. Local authorities have declined to give other important details regarding the arrest of Basar, who allegedly implicated some politicians in the killing of the 64-year-old mayor

Yabes was gunned down in the afternoon of Nov. 11 by three motorcycle-riding men while driving visitors and relatives around Maitum. He was laid to rest last Nov. 5 with thousands in attendance.

The arrest came after no less than President Arroyo tasked Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez to bring the killers to justice.

"Inaatasan ko si Gov. Migs Dominguez upang gawin ang lahat ng kanyang magagawa upang mahuli ang mga kriminal at ng magkaroon ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ni Mayor Yabes," the President said in her speech delivered by Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman who represented Arroyo during Sarangani’s founding anniversary last week. "Pinaaabot ko rin ang aking pakikiramay sa mga taga Maitum sa pagkamatay ng kanilang mahusay na mayor," the President said.

The killers have a P1.6 miliion bounty on their heads, P500,000 of which was initially offered by Gov. Dominguez. Other Sarangani town mayors contributed P100,000 each as addition to the reward, while the rest came from residents of Sarangani.

Officials from the local government units are optimistic that the arrest would lead to whoever masterminded the brutal slaying of the award-winning mayor.