Massacre suspect nabbed in Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) tagged in the killing of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015 was arrested in Cotabato City on Saturday.

Maj. Gen. Amador Corpus, chief of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said Tamano Esmail Sabpa was arrested at the parking area of the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Barangay Rosario Heights at around 2 p.m.

The suspect was arrested based on a warrant issued by Judge Alandrex Betoya for direct assault with murder.

A card identifying Sabpa  as a member of the MILF was found in his person, authorities said.

Sabpa was reportedly one of the gunmen who engaged the SAF commandos in an encounter in Barangay Tukanalipao on Jan. 25, 2015.

Aside from the 44 commandos, Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, was killed in the firefight.