OPERATIVES of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested last Tuesday the mayor of South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur and his wife for the killing of the town’s vice mayor and his security aide and wounding of two others.
Mayor Reynalbert Insular and his wife Janet were nabbed in Barangay Making in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, on the strength of arrest warrants for murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder.
The warrants were issued by the Cotabato City Regional Trial Court Branch 27 last Monday, the CIDG said.
Insular, the incumbent mayor of South Upi, is set to become the town’s vice mayor on June 30 after winning the vice mayoral race in the recently concluded elections.
His wife, Janet, ran for mayor in the elections but lost.
The Insular couple and 10 others were charged in connection with last year’s August 2 ambush in Barangay Pandan in South Upi that resulted in the death of Vice Mayor Roldan Benito and his security aide, Weng Ramos.
Benito’s wife, Analyn, and their 11-year-old son were injured in the attack.
Police said Insular and his wife were the alleged “masterminds” behind the ambush.
CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III commended CIDG operatives “for this investigative and operational accomplishment.”
“This is remarkable. You never stopped in the filing of a complaint, you patiently waited for the arrest warrant, then grabbed the accused at once,” said Torre.
He said the accomplishment “underscores the CIDG’s commitment in conducting a thorough investigation, filing of an airtight case, and putting criminals behind bars, with the end view of helping the victims and victims’ family attain the justice they deserved.”
He assured the public that the CIDG remains relentless in the campaign against wanted persons.
To the other suspects who remain at large, Torre said: “We urge the other accused to surrender to the CIDG or other authorities. The CIDG is dauntless, the CIDG means business.”Maguindanao del Sur mayor, wife
nabbed for killing of vice mayor
