By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives arrested the incumbent mayor of South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur and his wife for their alleged involvement in the killing of a vice mayor in August last year.
In a statement Wednesday, CIDG Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said South Upi Mayor Reynalbert Insular and his wife, Janet, were arrested on Tuesday in Barangay Making, Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.
Authorities nabbed the couple after Cotabato City, Maguindanao Regional Trial Court Branch 27 issued a warrant of arrest for murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder against them on May 19.
On Aug. 2, 2024, South Upi Vice Mayor Roldan Benito and his security aide, Weng Marcos, were killed in an ambush in Sitio Linao in the town’s Barangay Pandan. Benito’s wife and their 11-year-old child sustained gunshot wounds.
After an in-depth investigation, the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) filed criminal complaints against 12 individuals, including the South Upi mayor and his wife, for their alleged participation as alleged masterminds in the planning and orchestration of the ambush.
“Rest assured that your CIDG is relentless in its fight against wanted persons and fugitives and steadfast in implementing the law. We urge the other accused to surrender to the CIDG and/or other authorities. The CIDG is dauntless, the CIDG means business,” Torre said. (PNA)
