Philippines arrests 62 during clan crackdown
Source: Agencies |
December 7, 2009, Monday
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PHILIPPINE troops arrested 62 people and discovered another major weapons cache yesterday after martial law was imposed in a southern province following the country's worst political massacre.
Thousands of troops, backed by tanks and warplanes, have taken control of Maguindanao province in a government crackdown on the powerful Ampatuan clan, accused in the November 23 killing of 57 people traveling in a convoy of a political rival. The clan has denied involvement.
The government says it feared the Ampatuans, who have ruled unopposed with an iron fist over predominantly Muslim Maguindanao for years, were fomenting rebellion in response to the crackdown on them since the massacre.
Those arrested so far include the clan's patriarch, at least six other family members, and clan followers, national police Chief Jesus Verzosa said.
Thirty-nine high-powered firearms and crates of ammunition were dug up yesterday at a farm believed owned by the Ampatuans near the provincial capital of Shariff Aguak, army Brigadier General Gaudencio Pangilinan said.
Army troops and police were pursuing about 4,000 armed followers of the Ampatuans, some reportedly massing in eight Maguindanao towns. Security forces have sealed off Maguindanao's exit points and mounted checkpoints, said police Director Andres Caro.
Pangilinan said Ampatuan's followers were capable of carrying out bombings, arson attacks and abductions.
Fearing violence, some residents have fled towns in Maguindanao, about 900 kilometers south of Manila. Heavily armed troops manned checkpoints and frisked motorists along the main highway that cuts through farmland, hills and marshland in the province.
The martial law proclamation allows troops to make arrests without court warrants.
Thousands of troops, backed by tanks and warplanes, have taken control of Maguindanao province in a government crackdown on the powerful Ampatuan clan, accused in the November 23 killing of 57 people traveling in a convoy of a political rival. The clan has denied involvement.
The government says it feared the Ampatuans, who have ruled unopposed with an iron fist over predominantly Muslim Maguindanao for years, were fomenting rebellion in response to the crackdown on them since the massacre.
Those arrested so far include the clan's patriarch, at least six other family members, and clan followers, national police Chief Jesus Verzosa said.
Thirty-nine high-powered firearms and crates of ammunition were dug up yesterday at a farm believed owned by the Ampatuans near the provincial capital of Shariff Aguak, army Brigadier General Gaudencio Pangilinan said.
Army troops and police were pursuing about 4,000 armed followers of the Ampatuans, some reportedly massing in eight Maguindanao towns. Security forces have sealed off Maguindanao's exit points and mounted checkpoints, said police Director Andres Caro.
Pangilinan said Ampatuan's followers were capable of carrying out bombings, arson attacks and abductions.
Fearing violence, some residents have fled towns in Maguindanao, about 900 kilometers south of Manila. Heavily armed troops manned checkpoints and frisked motorists along the main highway that cuts through farmland, hills and marshland in the province.
The martial law proclamation allows troops to make arrests without court warrants.
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