Court orders release of man mistaken for Ampatuan Massacre suspect

CMFR/Philippines – The court hearing the Ampatuan Massacre trial ordered on 23 January 2014 the release of a man who was mistakenly identified as one of the accused.

Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) Branch 221 ordered the release of Jun Aliman who was arrested on 14 December 2011 after being mistakenly identified as Ampatuan Massacre suspect Sahid Guiamadil.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) admitted wrongfully identifying Aliman as Guiamadil in a letter to the court in November 2013, adding that the real Guiamadil, using the name Arnel Abdullah, had been arrested in 22 February 2013 for illegal possession of firearms.

A report from the Manila newspaper Tempo said CIDG’s investigation of the matter said the arresting officer was intentionally misled by an informant.

“(The informant) had personal interests and motives against Jun P. Aliman,” Tempo quoted CIDG Investigation Division’s acting chief, Superintendent Benjamin Silo as saying.

A representative of Branch 221 of the QC RTC told CMFR that the release order has already been received by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.