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Multiple murder raps filed vs Ampatuan patriarch, 4 kin


(Updated 11:57 p.m.) Apart from Andal Jr. also known as "Datu Unsay," five more members of the powerful and Arroyo-allied Ampatuan clan - including its patriarch Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., a mayor and a vice-mayor - have been recommended by the Philippine National Police Wednesday to be charged for murder in connection with the massacre of at least 57 people in Maguindanao province last week. Six other people were also included in the list of those recommended to face murder charges by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG). Apart from Andal Jr., who has already been charged with multiple murder, recommended to face similar charges are: 1. Andal Ampatuan Sr., governor of Maguindanao province; 2. Datu Ulo Ampatuan, earlier identified as grandson of Andal Sr.; 3. Bahnarin Ampatuan, mayor of Mamasapano town, Maguindanao; 4. Datu Kanor Ampatuan, vice mayor of Salibo town, Maguindanao; 5. Toni Kenis Ampatuan, police auxiliary of the municipal police stations (MPS) in Shariff Aguak and Datu Unsay towns; 6. Muhamad Sangki, municipal councilor of Datu Abdullah Sangki town, Maguindanao; 7. Tammy Masukat, earlier identified as the commander of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) in Maguindanao; 8. Tumi Timba Abas, police auxiliary of the MPS in Shariff Aguak and Datu Unsay towns; 9. PO1 Abbey Guiadem, officer in charge of the Datu Unsay MPS; 10. one identified only as Commander Beri, a CVO member of Datu Unsay MPS; and 11. one identified only as Dahutay, a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) assigned at Sitio Binibiran, Matagabong, Ampatuan town. Also mentioned as respondents are "one hundred other John and Peter Does."
The PNP-CIDG also recommended murder charges against Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who is currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila after he was arrested Thursday last week. Ampatuan Jr. has been charged with 25 counts of murder based on the complaint filed by Buluan town vice mayor Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu, but state prosecutors said he would face more charges once all the death certificates have been processed. Mangudadatu's wife, Genalyn, and two sisters were among the victims in the massacre. A total of 30 journalists were also killed in the violence. The victims were on a six-vehicle convoy on their way to file the candidacy documents of Mangudadatu, who is running for governor of Maguindanao, when waylaid by more or less 100 men allegedly upon orders from Ampatuan Jr. Probe on ARMM governor on, too The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), meanwhile, said Ampatuan Jr.'s brother, Zaldy, would be investigated too for being remiss in his duties as governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno said Ampatuan’s negligence allegedly led to the mass killing, which has been condemned by the international community including the United Nations and the European Union. “[The Department of Interior and Local Government] found sufficient cause to conduct a formal investigation in relation to [Ampatuan’s] alleged failure to protect the civil, human and political rights of the persons who were killed," Puno said in a statement. Maguindanao is one of the five provinces under ARMM. Puno ordered Ampatuan to submit an affidavit within a non-extendible period of five days. Failure to do so would amount to a waiver of the right to respond to the complaint. Mansion arrest? As this developed, government forces sealed off the mansion of the Ampatuan clan in Shariff Aguak, limiting their movement and visitors, to prevent risks and contamination of evidence. “The guidance is to seal off, but we are allowing essential people to talk to them," said Col. Leo Ferrer, commander of the Army’s 601st Brigade. He said the order came from the crisis committee chaired by Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza. Ferrer said members of the clan are not allowed to leave their mansion unless necessary. “Their movement is limited but they are not restricted," he said. He added that they have denied the entry of people whose purpose are “non-essential." “We do allow the non-essentials because as much as much as possible, we would like to minimize people inside for their own good, for their own safety," Ferrer said. A lawyer for the Ampatuans, Philip Pantoja, questioned the military’s move to limit the visitors of the Ampatuans. “Explain to us what is your purpose in blocking away? Do you have any court order to do it? You are telling ‘order from higher ups’. Show us the order so that we, and the media, will be appeased," said Pantoja. Pantoja said most of the visitors merely wanted to relay their support to the Ampatuans. - KBK, GMANews.TV
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