Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28) — Authorities have ordered the intensified manhunt of 76 suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre who are still at large.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief PGen Archie Gamboa said on Saturday the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) issued a memorandum dated March 13 to all units “on the tracking and accounting of wanted persons involved in the Maguindanao Massacre.”
The memo prompted the the publication of the names and photos of the suspects.
A bounty was also placed on each of the suspects: ₱300,000 each for the capture of Datu Bahnarin A. Ampatuan and Datu Saudi Ampatuan Jr., and ₱25,000 for each of the remaining.
Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director Undersecretary Jose Joel Sy Egco said, “As I have mentioned time and again, the PTFoMS and our member-agencies like the PNP, will stop at nothing in fulfilling our mandate and commitment to our media workers.”
Egco added they were working closely with various offices to bring the suspects to justice.
In December 2019, eight members of the Ampatuan clan were found guilty and sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in prison for the murder of 57 people in Maguindanao ten years ago.
Among those convicted were Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan, Jr., Zaldy Ampatuan, and Datu Anwar, Sr. – sons of the late former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. who prosecution witnesses said masterminded the crime.
