Ampatuan pleads not guilty to massacre
Source: Agencies |
January 6, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A MEMBER of a powerful political clan yesterday pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the Philippines' worst election massacre - of 57 journalists and members of a rival's family.
Andal Ampatuan Jr, a town mayor in southern Maguindanao province where his family ruled unopposed for years, has been initially charged with 41 counts of murder in the November 23 attack on an election caravan in the volatile southern Philippines.
Ampatuan, the only one charged with murder so far, entered a plea of not guilty as his trial got under way amid tight security in the national police headquarters.
Prosecutors said they have witnesses who will testify that Ampatuan led more than 100 government-armed militiamen and police in stopping the caravan outside Ampatuan township, then forcing the victims at gunpoint to a hilltop clearing where they were gunned down and buried in mass graves.
Among those killed were at least 30 journalists and their staff in what is considered the world's deadliest single attack on media workers. The victims included the family and supporters of the Ampatuans' election rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, who sent his wife to file his candidacy papers hoping she would not be harmed.
Andal Ampatuan Jr, a town mayor in southern Maguindanao province where his family ruled unopposed for years, has been initially charged with 41 counts of murder in the November 23 attack on an election caravan in the volatile southern Philippines.
Ampatuan, the only one charged with murder so far, entered a plea of not guilty as his trial got under way amid tight security in the national police headquarters.
Prosecutors said they have witnesses who will testify that Ampatuan led more than 100 government-armed militiamen and police in stopping the caravan outside Ampatuan township, then forcing the victims at gunpoint to a hilltop clearing where they were gunned down and buried in mass graves.
Among those killed were at least 30 journalists and their staff in what is considered the world's deadliest single attack on media workers. The victims included the family and supporters of the Ampatuans' election rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, who sent his wife to file his candidacy papers hoping she would not be harmed.
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