DAVAO CITY — The Philippine National Police in North Cotabato have filed 9 counts of Murder against the suspects in the August 29, 2020, daylight massacre killing nine people in Kabacan town, the court has issued warrant of arrest but after one year, no one is arrested.
In a press statement dated August 30, North Cotabato PNP Provincial Commander Henry Villar said they already filed charges against the suspects on February 2021, with Criminal Case Number 2021-17 to 25.
On Sunday, August 28, families and relatives of those who died held a rally at the crime scene inside the University of Southern Mindanao Campus and was asking why no charges had been filed before the court and and why government officials who had told them to not be afraid were silent now.
Jabib Guiabar, the designated area coordinator for the seven villages of Kabacan that now formed part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), called out President Duterte, the Cotabato governor, vice governor and provincial board members, the Kabacan mayor, the police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for answers.
The families however, are not aware of the development of the case, as they commemorated the bloody massacre on Monday.
Villar said acting Presiding Judge Hon. Jose Tanalgo Tabosares of Kidapawan Citty ha s issued the warrant of arrest dated February 10, 2021.
The PNP statement stated “To the family of the victims, know that we are one with you through your grief especially during these trying times. Although the suspects were still at large, CPPO is relentless in its efforts in pursuit for justice and assures the bereaved families that justice will be served over the loss of their loved ones despite the challenge brought by the pandemic.”
