The second fugitive in the Ampatuan Massacre case was arrested on Thursday, January 9, 2020, in his home at Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao.

Gambayan Kasim, also known as Lori Alip, is the second fugitive to fall into the hands of the authorities in connection with the Ampatuan Massacre case.

Kasim’s arrest happened just three days after Faisal Dimaukom, the first suspect, was nabbed by a composite team led by Lt. Col. Ibrahim Jambiran, Chief of Police of the Parang Municipal Police, RID PRO BAR led by P/Lt. Col. Renato Mauricio, TSC RMFCB14 PRO BAR P/Cpt. Paul Symon Villareal and Datu Saudi Ampatuan (DSA) MPS P/CPT Abdulbasit Kulod at Brgy. Kabinge, DSA, Maguindanao at about 5:05am on January 6, 2020.

His arrest was effected through a Warrant of Arrest issued by Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn A. Solis-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City under Criminal Case No. GL-Q-12-178638.

Just like Dimaukom, a hand grenade was also seized from Kasim as he was arrested, but his companion, Edsrail Guiomla, was killed in the police encounter after he allegedly fired at the arresting officers. Kasim is now under police custody.

“Two down, seventy eight to go,” said PTFoMS Co-Chair and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar.

“We are counting down to the eventual capture of all those involved in this gruesome episode in our history. As I’ve said before, it’s not going to be easy, but we will be relentless in pursuing them. They can run, they can hide, but we will catch them one way or the other,” Andanar also said.

PTFoMS Executive Director Joel Sy Egco: “The intensified nationwide manhunt for the remaining suspects as ordered by PNP OIC LT GEN ARCHIE FRANCISCO GAMBOA is truly effective. Two suspects arrested in a span of three days is nothing to sneeze at.”

On December 9, 2019, Gamboa, through PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, issued a nationwide alert for hunting the suspects and assured the bereaved families and relatives of victims that “efforts are ongoing and being intensified for the arrest of suspects who are still at-large.”

Ten days later, on December 19, the principal suspects in the “People vs. Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr. alias ‘Unsay’, et. al” were found guilty.

This the 2nd update the PTFoMS has shared with the public in connection with the Ampatuan Massacre and we shall continue to monitor the developments in the on-going manhunt operations for the other suspects. (report by STACY Ang)