KIDAPAWAN CITY (May 9) – A man wanted by law for murder and multiple frustrated murder and evaded arrest for more than 10 years was arrested by joint police and military personnel after driving past a checkpoint in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato on Monday afternoon.
Chief Inspector Realan Mamon, the police chief of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, said Abdulgani Mantil, alias Pene, was driving a white car without a license plate and was heading to Cotabato City and drove past a police-Army checkpoint in Barangay South Manuangan, Pigcawayan, North Cotabato at 4 p.m.
Mamon said police received an intelligence report that Mantil, who carries a P500,000 reward for his arrest, will pass by the Manuangan detachment. Police and soldiers were then alerted.
“He drove past the police and Army detachment, so he was chased,” Supt. Bernard Tayong, North Cotabato police spokesperson, said. He was later arrested at an Army checkpoint in Barangay Pigcalagan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao by soldiers in front of the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade headquarters.
According to Tayong, Mantil has a warrant of arrest for his alleged involvement in the 2007 Kidapawan City bombing which left two persons injured. The warrant was issued on December 15, 2007 by Judge Rogelio Narima of the 12th Judicial Region Branch in Kidapawan City.-Edwin O. Fernandez/Newsline.ph