Philippines massacre suspect charged
Source: Agencies |
December 2, 2009, Wednesday
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EIGHT days after Philippines' worst political massacre, prosecutors yesterday charged the heir of a powerful clan who they say directed the slaughter of 57 people, more than half of them journalists.
Three witnesses, who escaped because their car was at the tail end of the election convoy that was ambushed in a southern province on November 23 , said they saw Andal Ampatuan Jr and about 100 gunmen, including police officers, stopping the cars, prosecutor Al Calica said.
Hours later, troops found the bullet-riddled and hacked-up bodies near the highway sprawled in the grass and hastily buried with a backhoe in three mass graves.
Ampatuan turned himself in last week. He has denied the charges.
He is the scion of a clan allied with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that has ruled Maguindanao unopposed for years.
His father - the family's patriarch - and six other family members also are considered suspects but have not been charged.
Prosecutors initially filed 25 counts of murder against Ampatuan in southern Cotabato city, whose regional court is nearest to the massacre site in Ampatuan township.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said she will ask the court to try the case elsewhere, fearing witnesses may become reluctant to testify over fears for their safety.
"The evidence is strong," Calica said, adding that at least 10 witnesses provided written testimonies linking Ampatuan to the killings.
The caravan was carrying 30 journalists and the wife, two sisters, an aunt and several supporters of Ampatuan's rival, Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao's Buluan township.
Authorities said earlier that they have taken six police officers into custody, including the Maguindanao provincial police chief and his deputy.
Two inspectors among them were allegedly seen with Ampatuan during the massacre, said Erickson Velasquez, head of the police criminal investigation division.
Three witnesses, who escaped because their car was at the tail end of the election convoy that was ambushed in a southern province on November 23 , said they saw Andal Ampatuan Jr and about 100 gunmen, including police officers, stopping the cars, prosecutor Al Calica said.
Hours later, troops found the bullet-riddled and hacked-up bodies near the highway sprawled in the grass and hastily buried with a backhoe in three mass graves.
Ampatuan turned himself in last week. He has denied the charges.
He is the scion of a clan allied with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that has ruled Maguindanao unopposed for years.
His father - the family's patriarch - and six other family members also are considered suspects but have not been charged.
Prosecutors initially filed 25 counts of murder against Ampatuan in southern Cotabato city, whose regional court is nearest to the massacre site in Ampatuan township.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said she will ask the court to try the case elsewhere, fearing witnesses may become reluctant to testify over fears for their safety.
"The evidence is strong," Calica said, adding that at least 10 witnesses provided written testimonies linking Ampatuan to the killings.
The caravan was carrying 30 journalists and the wife, two sisters, an aunt and several supporters of Ampatuan's rival, Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao's Buluan township.
Authorities said earlier that they have taken six police officers into custody, including the Maguindanao provincial police chief and his deputy.
Two inspectors among them were allegedly seen with Ampatuan during the massacre, said Erickson Velasquez, head of the police criminal investigation division.
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