2 massacre suspects fall in Maguindanao — Army

Joint police and military operatives on Monday morning arrested two suspects in the massacre in Maguindanao province almost a year ago.

Philippine Army head Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said Taya Karim and Tayan Salik were nabbed during a raid at their safehouse at 5:15 a.m. in the sub-village of Matingen in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao province.

The government has offered a P250,000 bounty each for the arrest of the two suspects.

The operation was carried out by joint elements of Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group based in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and elements from the Army's 603rd Brigade.

There are nearly 200 suspects involved in the Nov. 23, 2009 bloodbath, where 57 people, including 32 journalists, were killed. It is said to be the worst political and election-related killing in Philippine history.

The international community also dubbed the Philippines as the most dangerous place for journalists because of the incident.

Former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his father, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., are the prime suspects in the carnage. Scions of the powerful clan and their private armies are also implicated incident.

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 is handling the multiple murder case against the suspects. — with Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMANews.TV