PNP agents arrest Maguindanao massacre suspect in Saranggani

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Police operatives arrested on Tuesday another suspect in the gruesome Maguindanao massacre after nearly six years in hiding in nearby Sarangani Province.Supt. Romeo Galgo, Police Regional Office 12 public information officer, said suspect Denga Mentol alias Tho Cario Opong was nabbed by a joint police team in an operation in Sitio Kabangkalan, Barangay Batotuling in Glan town at around 4:25 a.m.He said Mentol is allegedly a member of the Civilian Volunteer Organization in Maguindanao and directly figured in the massacre of 58 people, including 32 media workers, in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman in Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009. He was among the original 189 suspects who were charged in connection with the killings,” he said.Galgo said their operatives got wind of Mentol’s whereabouts based on a tip from a local informant.He said a tracker team from PRO-12’s intelligence branch and regional intelligence unit left for Glan town at around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to serve the warrant of arrest against the suspect.The operation was joined by elements from the Sarangani Police Public Safety Company and the Glan municipal police station.Galgo said Mentol is currently detained at the Alabel municipal police station while awaiting transfer to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.Mentol was nabbed based on a warrant of arrest issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn A Solis-Reyes in connection with the massacre.The Department of Interior and Local Government earlier placed a Php250,000 reward for the arrest of the suspect, who is listed as a resident of Barangay Iganagampong, Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao.