SOUTH Upi Mayor Reynalbert Insular and his wife, Janet, were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the murder of Vice Mayor Roldan Benito.
The arrests, carried out by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, stem from a warrant issued by the Cotabato City Regional Trial Court Branch 27 on May 19, charging the couple with murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder. No bail was recommended.
The arrest follows a thorough investigation into the August 2, 2024 ambush that claimed the life of Vice Mayor Benito and his security aide, Weng Marcos. Benito’s wife, Analyn, their child, and a student were also injured in the attack. A special investigation task group concluded that the Insular couple were the masterminds behind the crime.
The ambush occurred in Barangay Pandan, South Upi, as the victims traveled in a pickup truck. Gunmen waiting along the road opened fire, escaping before the arrival of local responders.
The swift apprehension of the Insular couple underscores the CIDG’s commitment to bringing perpetrators to justice, according to CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III. He highlighted the thorough investigations and meticulous case building that led to the arrests.
The arrest is particularly significant given that Mayor Insular was elected to his current position in the May 12 elections.
