Maguindanao massacre suspect gunned down

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Police shot dead a suspect in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre as he resisted arrest when cornered at his hideout in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao on Friday.

Maguid Amil suffered multiple gunshot wounds when policemen that were to serve the warrant for his arrest shot him while he was trying to remove the safety pin of a grenade, according to Senior Superintendent Rudelio Jocson, Maguindanao police director.

“The team that was to arrest him brought him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” Jocson said.

“It was but natural for the raiding team to react that way because there was clear and imminent danger coming from Amil,” he added.

Jocson said villagers helped the police in tracking down Amil.

A P250,00 reward was put up for the arrest of Amil, a former member of the private militia of the Ampatuan clan.

Hours earlier, another Maguindanao massacre suspect, Nasser Guia, was arrested by police acting on a tip-off by villagers in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, also in Maguindanao.

Guia, who is from Datu Unsay town, had been hiding in Datu Odin Sinsuat since January 2010.

Police said Amil and Guia were tagged by witnesses as among more than a hundred militiamen involved in the election-related massacre.

Amil and Guia were among those who flagged down the convoy of the victims and herded them to the massacre site, said Senior Superintendent Melencio Mina, quoting witnesses.

Fifty seven people, including journalists, lawyers and even bystanders were killed. – With Mike Frialde