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Philippines mayor accused of organizing shootings

South East Asia News.Net
Friday 27th November, 2009

Justice officials said they are investigating claims that Philippines soldiers and local police had participated in Monday's mass shootings.
The mayor of a southern Philippines city, is facing multiple murder charges following a bloodbath on Monday which left 57 people dead, and scores injured.

Andal Ampatuan jnr, Mayor of Datu Unsay and the son of the provincial governor of Maguindanao, in the southern Philippines, was arrested and charged Friday.

Justice officials said they are investigating claims that Philippines soldiers and local police had participated in Monday's mass shootings. There were also reports that women, who accounted for nearly hulf the number of people killed, had been raped and had their pants pulled down while they were shot in their genitals.

Officials said they had affidavits from seventeenn people supporting the charges against Ampatuan.

Late on Friday the Philippines army recalled the two most senior commanders in the southern part of the country. They are believed to be under investigation over the shootings. A number of Maguindanao police officers have been arrested and are being detained in their barracks.

Witnesses have reportedly given statements to prosecutors alleging Mr Ampatuan ordered his private militia of more than a hundred gunmen to open fire on the unarmed group in a remote farming area. The militia included soldiers and policemen, Justice Secretary, Agnes Devanadera told local media.

The drama began Monday around 9:00am when around 100 gunmen ambushed a convoy that planned to nominate Esmael Mangundadatu, a political rival of the Ampatuan clan, for governor in next year's local elections. Mangundadatu's wife was leading the convoy which was to formalise the nomination at the electoral office. The convoy was being accompanied by around thirty jounalists and media workers who were covering the event. The entire convoy was abducted and taken to a location around ten kilometres from the main road where they were all killed. Asked why the reporters were killed along with Mangundadatu's supporters, which included his wife, local journalists said it is believed it was .in order to eliminate all the witnesses of the massacre
 

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Comments on this story

lola
11-28-09, 05:09 AM

Mayor charged with orchestrating Philippines massacre

Punish the monstrous criminal according to law and protect the victims family. Itsn a shame what happened in Philippines.A president who have friends and killer machine the Ampatuan clan is not better als the criminal.

Anonymous
11-28-09, 06:59 AM

The Philippines is getting worse and hopeless

I do not know how our leaders can stand all these abrbaric acts. Worse, the national government for sure will be useless since those suspect are her subalterns. THey will prote3ct these people because they have to so called vested interest, THE VOTE. SHAme on you guys. I know you will stop not retire until you siphoned everything.

Anonymous
11-28-09, 07:00 AM

KILL ANDAL AMPATUAN JR. THE SAME AS SADDAM HUSSEIN...AND PUT BEHIND BARS HIS CLAN...FREEDOM FOR MAGUINDANAO!!!THOSE SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES ARE HEROES IN MINDANAO PHILS.IT IS THE START OF A NEW GENERATION!!! LOVE...PEACE...AND UNITY IN ONE GOD!!!.....

ACI LLA TEM JMF75 fr. LEBRAM
11-28-09, 07:09 AM

AND...JUSTICE FOR ALL...

KILL ANDAL AMPATUAN JR. THE SAME AS SADDAM HUSSEIN...AND PUT BEHIND BARS HIS CLAN...FREEDOM FOR MAGUINDANAO!!!THOSE SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES ARE HEROES IN MINDANAO PHILS.IT IS THE START OF A NEW GENERATION!!! LOVE...PEACE...AND UNITY IN ONE GOD!!!.....

bento
11-28-09, 08:32 AM

Shame on you???/

Good people.
sometimes, I don’t even wan’t to read our Phil. news. It always horrible and embarassing all the crimes and corruption we had inherited from the Spaniards 300 yrs. ago. Sometimes, I’m even hopeless that our country will be better or maybe worst?. so sad....

Ina ko po
11-28-09, 09:34 AM

Iyan anf ugali ng mga Pinoy,basta sa pilitica ay nagpapatayan. Because the power and money are heavily invovled no matter what you do. When I was very young From Quirino presidential alway til now they kill each other and it will keep on gouing until the period of time. The philippines is running the country into hell and I hope it will stop and make the country the Pearl of the ocean instead the peril of ther ocean. Salamat po

justice will serve
11-28-09, 11:00 AM

thats right kill those people are hated of others.we should to love one another for the peace and unity of our country,they are nothing but distroyed our land,evil,don’t deserve to live in this world,kill them allno mercy as they do unto others lives,worthless human being.we need freedom,peace,in our own Country Philippines thank you all.

Anonymous
11-28-09, 11:17 AM

crime agains God and Allah

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.. These words are so true. This horror is a crime againt all known and believed moral laws of humanity. I sincerely hope this changes the focus of the government and those political people there for only themselves. It is an atrocity that this happens at all. My belief in humanity, in the good of people is shaken. I love the country and the people there and will move there. This is what a foreigner should expect to find there? With most people wanting a safe and healthy life, wanting family to be good and have a good life like most of the world, why should so many live in such poor conditions. So few that have so much and have such little respect and consideration for their fellow man. Only when this is in the open, visible to everyone is this way of life known to the rest of the world. I have been there and have found the people to be so friendly and families so close and helpful. I hope all those in power see the change coming, feel that these horrors will not be tolerated any longer. Not there, not by the world. Living in fear will not be accepted for always. God and Allah will give you eternal judgement, be prepared with how you live.

Anonymous
11-28-09, 11:46 AM

crime agains God and Allah

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.. These words are so true. This horror is a crime againt all known and believed moral laws of humanity. I sincerely hope this changes the focus of the government and those political people there for only themselves. It is an atrocity that this happens at all. My belief in humanity, in the good of people is shaken. I love the country and the people there and will move there. This is what a foreigner should expect to find there? With most people wanting a safe and healthy life, wanting family to be good and have a good life like most of the world, why should so many live in such poor conditions. So few that have so much and have such little respect and consideration for their fellow man. Only when this is in the open, visible to everyone is this way of life known to the rest of the world. I have been there and have found the people to be so friendly and families so close and helpful. I hope all those in power see the change coming, feel that these horrors will not be tolerated any longer. Not there, not by the world. Living in fear will not be accepted for always. God and Allah will give you eternal judgement, be prepared with how you live.

Juan Luna Ibarrizto
11-28-09, 03:39 PM

Philippines mayor accused of organizing shootings

Andal Junior claims he is innocent - because he did not actually pull the trigger, much like Erap says there is no corruption if no public money is involved.

The ambush could have been prevented if the Philippine Army provided the Mangudadatu convoy with an escort. It is so pathetic watching the army officer saying that they were busy and offered the Mangudadatus escort on another day. That was why there was no army escort. Arroyo may use this massacre to justify declaring MARTIAL LAW.

Let us see what General Ibrado says, protect the constitution of the Philippines from threats from within and without, hah general?

The Army,PNP,or NBI should have seized all the weapons of the Ampatuans and examine these for forensics i.e. which ones were used to kill the victims?

Andal Junior with no handcuffs escorted by two NBI agents was just smirking from all the lights and attention. From Dureza to Devanavera it was all a circus show. He is now more famous than Pacman. That headband sure looked fashionable. That is how their psyche works down there.

With Arroyo repeating the same lines

Juan Luna Ibarrizto
11-28-09, 03:47 PM

Philippines mayor accused of organizing shootings


With Arroyo repeating the same lines

Juan Luna Ibarrizto
11-28-09, 03:48 PM

With Arroyo repeating the same lines

Anone Mous
11-28-09, 03:49 PM

With Arroyo repeating the same lines

Juan Luna Ibarrizto
11-28-09, 03:55 PM

Philippine Mayor accused of Organizing shootings

With Arroyo repeating the same lines

nhorene
11-28-09, 04:51 PM

paulit ulit lang mangyayari sa pilipinas

nakakalungkot isipin na sa tuwing saaspit ang eleksiyon sa pilipinas maraming buhay ang nabubuwis kasi dahil sa kahayukan ng mga taong hidhid sa kapngayrihan. Sana naman mag isip na ang taong bayan na piliin ang tamang tao sa pwestong alam nating makakapagbago sa ating bayan.At sa mga kampon ng demonyo na walang konsensiya mamatay din kayo pati si satanas d kayo tatangapin kasi pati siya kalabanin nyo mga dayukdok sa power.

Christ has mercy even for those who thinks its right
11-28-09, 04:57 PM

Time for the UN to protect and put right the corrupt monsters running the island

Its time the embarrassment stops, the Philippines is getting worse every day, it makes me laugh when the Government says it is promoting the country as a retirement haven, who in their right mind would want to put themselves at that level of risk ? . Iraq is no worse, In gods name get it right, and the people of the Philippines and Mindanao in particular, stop blindly following which ever movie star throws enough peso’s your way, stop the courrption, stop the graft, vote for whats right and stop the killing before you destroy your won country. Do you hate it so much that your willing to destroy it? You have a beautiful part of the world in which to live for heavens sake look after it. And as for the Muslims of Mindanao, give up the vast majority of the island is Christian , you cant have it, its not yours, things change, get used to it and live in peace with your Christian Brothers and Sisters.

Anonymous
11-28-09, 06:57 PM

i dont know why people do such a thing like that its not fair to their family and to their kids why!why!why! i hope the person will pay for the damage he has done

RAJA SULIMAN
11-28-09, 10:00 PM

Pilipinas talagang wala ng pag-asa

After 2 deserving world honors to Philippines by Pacman and Efren Peñaflorida, here goes another series of embarrassment by our politicians...I don’t know what’s happening to our country..looks like most of our politicians are useless but corrupts and killers..From the national government to the lower level, to the barangays...all are the same...Sa bawat kanto, mula bata hanggang matanda, puro pulitika nag pinag-uusapan....

Kawawa talaga ang Pilipinas...All people were manipulated to talked about our useless politics...Philippines is way behind now among our counter-parts in Asia..Right now, Philippines is now competing againts Bangladesh among the last non-progressive country... SHAME ON US...

Anonymous
11-28-09, 10:38 PM

We can not blame nobody except us who is running the Philippines to hell as Cursed by Manuel L Quezon. He rather see the Philippines like hell by the Pilipino tayhn the American like heaven.It is being run like hell until the fire in hell subside to snow.Why the Philippines Politician does it because we let them do it to ourselves.The Pilipino leader does not look for the welfare of the country but for themselves. I hate to say these,I think the Armed Forces take over the country and kill or jail all those politicians. Most like like wipe them out and let one leader run the country.


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