Mangudadatu offers P100K for arrest of suspects in student's murder

COTABATO CITY -- Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Totoo Manguadatu has offered Php100,000 reward money for anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of other suspects in the rape-slay of a 15-year-old working student of Buluan, Maguindanao.Earlier, the Buluan PNP arrested three suspects who were pointed by witnesses based on their sworn statements. Two of them were found positive of drug use.Senior Insp. Victor Pansoy, Buluan police chief, identified the arrested suspects as Puwa Salendab, Fahad Kalipapa and Dayan Makaton, all residents of Buluan. They denied the charges against them. I promised to the victim’s family we will do our best to give Bainora justice she deserves, we need the cooperation of anybody who have information about the remaining four suspects,” Mangudadatu told reporters.Bainora Soaliman, a working student of Mahad National High School in Poblacion Buluan, was allegedly gang-raped by about seven to eight persons inside the school canteen on September 5.Pansoy said the canteen was set on fire, apparently to cover up the crime. The three suspects were identified by several witnesses who issued sworn statements, we are still hunting down the other suspects,” he said, adding that the victim’s charred remains were not subjected to autopsy and buried immediately according to Islamic tradition.Mangudadatu said the victim was a distant relative on his mother side. I appeal to all the people of Buluan to help the police locate the other suspects,” Mangudadatu said.Solaiman was a resident of nearby Datu Paglas, Maguindanao and stays in a relative’s house in Poblacion Buluan during class days. The victim’s classmates described her as quiet, hardworking and intelligent. She comes from a poor farmer’s family thus she works while studying.