Marawi exec frowns over calls to kill 4 rape, arson suspects

By BONITA ERMAC
Correspondent

MARAWI City––Civilians brought four men to the police for detention on suspicion that they gangaped a teenager before burning her in Barangay East Basak on Friday.

Marawi Mayor Fahad Salic said he tried to calm angry people down because they wanted the suspects killed by firing squad. Mayor Salic said, “We have laws in the Philippines. That cannot be done. Rather, file a case in court.”

There were also those who reportedly called on authorities to hand over the suspects so they could be burned alive. The police are in a dilemma because no one has filed a complaint against the suspects until now.

Supt. Agustin Tello, police provincial director, said the suspects identified as Jabbar Macacua, Salman Sambitory, Elias Pimping, and Jalil Sani, were handed over to the police for detention at the Marawi City Jail.

Tello however said the police would need the group responsible for the civilian arrest to give their statements, and show evidence to investigators.

The suspects allegedly confessed to tying up and raping the 15-year old victim but Tello said the police could not build a case against them based on this.

The victim was last seen buying noodles at a store before the fire. Store owner Elias Solaiman, a relative of the victim, said he was shocked because he was the one who gave the teenager the noodles before he went to a mosque to pray. He said it was his wife who called him up to inform him about the burning house. SPO2 Ali Guibon Rangiris said the police was informed by a concerned citizen at around 1 pm on Friday. The fire started at 12:45 pm and was extinguished at around 1:30 pm Friday.

Four of seven suspects were caught by civilians while they were allegedly trying to escape, said Elias.