Press Release
June 11, 2009

Gordon lauds PNP's swift action on killed Red Cross official

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its swift action on the case of Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) official, Bai Aleta Sinsuat, who was killed last Saturday.

Gordon, PNRC chairman, commended PNP chief Director General Jesus Ame Versoza and PSSupt. Willie M. Dangane Sr., head of the Cotabato City Police Office and Task Force Bai Aleta Sinsuat, for the immediate arrest of the principal suspects in the killing of Sinsuat, a member of the board of directors of the PNRC-Cotabato City Chapter.

"Congratulations to the PNP for the arrest of the suspects in the killing of Bai Aleta. In behalf of the Philippine National Red Cross, I thank PNP chief Dir. Gen. Jesus Versoza and SSupt. Willie Dangane. We laud their quick action in this case," he said.

"We find that our faith in the capability of the PNP to protect and serve our citizens has been restored despite facing serious challenges to peace and order. We urge the PNP to demonstrate the same capacity and resolve in pursuing other criminals," Gordon added.

According to reports that the senator received from the PNP, two of the suspects in the killing of Sinsuat were apprehended by elements of the Task Force Bai Aleta and of the Police Regional Office 12 through successive follow-up operations. Last June 8, Dangane led a pursuit operation at the remote Muslim area in Barangay Patadon, Kidapawan City, Cotabato province, where Michael Usi, alias Fatok or Aratuc, a principal suspect, was arrested.

In a follow-up operation on June 9 at a Muslim compound in Barangay New Isabela, Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, the police force apprehended Nondo Mokamad alias Erik, also tagged as a principal suspect. Mokamad admitted to the shooting of Sinsuat using a homemade single shot caliber 45.

The PNP has filed murder cases against Usi and Mohamad. Also charged for murder include a certain Ali and two John Does, who are still at large.

The PNRC strongly condemned the killing of Sinsuat, who worked as a Red Cross volunteer for more than 30 years. Sinsuat played an extensive role in the rehabilitation of thousands of evacuees displaced by the conflicts that rocked the region in 2000 when then President Joseph Estrada launched his "all out war" against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

In 2003, she supervised relief operations in the towns of Pagalungan and Montawal in Maguindanao and Pikit in North Cotabato. While in 2008, Sinsuat led local Red Cross chapter volunteers in serving internally displaced persons in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

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