Monday, December 18, 2006 Murder raps filed v. Maitum mayor's killers By Edwin G. Espejo
POLICE authorities said they already filed murder charges against the killers of Maitum mayor George Yabes who was gunned down by motorcycle-riding gunman on November 11.
The police also said at least one mastermind was included in the charge sheet. Included in the criminal complaint were Abdul Basar, Allan Kamid Abu Guiwan, Monding Usop, Badsagan Gulinda, Mike Kamid, and Dimakilang Lali.
Only Basar and Lali are in police custody while the others remain at large.
Police Regional Office Director German Doria said several other suspected masterminds could surface as police investigators are still pursuing several leads in the sensational killing.
The murder complaint was submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) "to erase any speculation of harassment," according to Doria.
But he said politics and business rivalry are two of the motives identified by the police in the murder of Yabes.
Yabes was slain while he was driving around the town his relative-visitors from Hawaii last month.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief Edwin Diocos said they have recovered material evidences that could lead into the apprehension and conviction of the killers.
"We believe we have a strong case," Diocos said.
The CIDG is the investigating arm of Task Force Yabes, which was created by the police to look into the assassination.
Diocos said one of the suspects, who was presented by the police in a press conference last week, was present when the murder plot was hatched together with one of the alleged masterminds.
Diocos however declined to disclose the identity of the alleged mastermind pending the DOJ resolution of the murder charges they have filed.
He said Lali, who surrendered to the police last November 24, has executed an affidavit that revealed the details of the murder.
Military authorities meanwhile arrested Basar several days after the killing.
Basar is reportedly the driver of the motorcycle used in the Yabes assassination.
Several prominent residents of Maitum have been implicated in the killing, including former vice mayor Felix Reganit who is now the towns' chief executive following the death of Yabes.
Reganit was earlier implicated in the previous assassination attempt on Yabes.
Reganit, however, has repeatedly denied any role in the killing.
MILF role
Doria has cautioned the media here to refrain from implicating the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the killing of Yabes.
"Let us be cautious. We have no direct evidence linking them to the crime," he recently told reporters during a press conference.
One of the suspects in the Yabes murder, who surrendered to the police last month, reportedly told police investigators that the triggerman in the Yabes killing, at one time served as trainer of the MILF.
At least two other suspects -- Guiwan and Kamid who remain at large -- reportedly have links with the MILF.
"It (the MILF) is like the police organization. There are also rogue cops in our ranks," Doria said.
Doria said they have sent feelers for the MILF through the government panel holding peace talks with the Moro rebel group to ascertain the identities and affiliation of the suspects.
"We have established contact with Kumander Tigre," Doria told reporters.
Tigre is the head of the MILF brigade operating in Maitum and nearby Sultan Kudarat town of Plaimbang.
Police said they are not discounting the possibility of the mastermind or masterminds employing some members of the MILF as hired assassins in the Yabes murder.
Doria said if ever it is so, the Yabes killing did not have the sanction of the MILF hierarchy.
But he said police authorities are still pursuing investigation to get to the bottom of the Yabes killing.
