Nabbed Maguindanao massacre suspect was Andal Ampatuan Jr.’s right- hand man —CIDG

A Maguindanao massacre suspect who was recently nabbed by police was the right-hand man of Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. and is seen as key to tying up loose ends in the 2009 case, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said.

According to John Consulta’s “24 Oras” report on Monday, Nasser Adam, alias Umar Kasim, was arrested in Misamis Oriental while working as a security guard under a different name. 

Adam was a former municipal councilor in Maguindanao.

“Itong suspek ay kanang kamay ni Unsay Ampatuan. Bilang kanang kamay, siya ‘yung nagtatago, naghahawak no’ng mga baril at mga kagamitan ni Unsay,” a CIDG official said.

“Nuong mangyari ‘yung insidente, he was there at the scene of the incident at, accordingly, ipinag-utos sa kanya na siguraduhin na itong mga namatay ay wala nang buhay bago umalis sa crime scene,” he added.

Adam refused to comment.

“Napakaimportante nuong kaniyang pagkakahuli kasi mabubuo na natin ‘yung direction ng investigations natin. Malalaman na natin through him sino sino ba ‘yung iba pang—ano bang mga participation ng mga nabanggit dito sa mga indibidwal na nabanggit dito sa kaso at siya rin ang makakapagbigay-linaw ano ano ba ‘yung mga direct o indirect participation sa mga individual na nademanda natin,” the CIDG official said.

The Maguindanao massacre, an unprecedented level of election-related violence and attack on the press, led to the deaths of 58 people, 32 of whom were journalists. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News