Fugitive recaptured in Sarangani

Koronadal City – Police operatives arrested on Saturday afternoon the fugitive, who escaped together with Pentagon kidnap gang leader Tahir Alonto in General Santos City Reformation Center eight years ago, in a remote village in Maasim town in Sarangani province.

Reports obtained by The STAR from the Maasim police station yesterday said arrested was Rolando Mastura, single, and a resident of Purok Seguil, Barangay Bawing in General Santos City.        

Mastura also escaped from the General Santos City Reformation Center together with Tahir Alonto and 66 other inmates, mostly facing murder, robbery and kidnapping charges, during a daring attack on the said prison staged by suspected members of the Moro Islamic Libe­ration Front (MILF). 

The 30-year-old Mastura was facing charges of murder in the courts of General Santos City and frustrated murder in Maasim town.   

Senior Inspector Jeofel Remudaro, town police chief of Maasim, said Mastura was captured at around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in the remote part of Barangay Pananag in Maasim town following a tip from residents there that the fugitive inmate was hiding in the area. 

Armed with a warrant of arrest, Remudaro, together with the elements of Tambler police  in General Santos City, swooped down on Mastura’s hideout and arrested him.  

Remudaro said during tactical interrogation, Mastura admitted that he transferred from one place to another to avoid arrest from the police authorities.

Mastura also admitted that he even went to the malls in General Santos City to buy something but, he said, nobody noticed him.    

Remudaro said Mastura told investigators that he regretted escaping with Alonto.  

“Nagsisisi talaga ako sir kung bakit sumama ako na tumakas kasama si Tahir Alonto. Pero hindi ako sumama sa kanila. Kanya-kanya na kami ng tago noon. Sumama na lang ako na tumakas sa kanila kasi nakita ko na butas na yung pader kaya tumakas na rin ako,” Mastura was quoted by a local paper based in General Santos City, said.   – Ramil Bajo