Another Maguindanao massacre suspect arrested in Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Another suspect in the Maguindanao Massacre that killed 57 people in 2009 was arrested Wednesday afternoon while on duty as security guard in Cotabato Provincial Hospital, police report said.  

Chief Inspector Elmer Guevarra of North Cotabato-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said suspect Sahid Guiamadel did not resist arrest when approached by the joint Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and CIDG operatives.

Guiamadel was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Jocelyn Reyes-Solis of the Regional Trial Court-National Capital Region (RTC-NCR)  branch 221 for 57 counts of murder.  

Guevarra said, based on information the suspect was working as security guard of the provincial government and was assigned at the provincial hospital.  

“He works there for three months prior to his arrest,” Guevarra said.  

According to Guevarra Guiamadel was using another name and two addresses while applying for a job in the provincial government. But Guiamadel was identified by the witnesses as one of those involved in the Nov. 23, 2009 carnage that killed 57 people (32 of them media workers).  

The CIDG-ARMM and North Cotabato has conducted thorough investigation on the suspect before the arrest was made.  

The suspect is now in the custody of CIDG-ARMM, according to Guevarra. Guiamadel is the 96th to be arrested of the 196 suspects in the massacre. — Williamor A. Magbanua /LBG GMA News