Army battalions surround capitol, Ampatuan mansions

Hundreds of additional troops have been sent to Maguindanao province to protect the Ampatuan clan from "possible retaliation" in connection with last week's massacre of 57 people, which is being blamed on the powerful Arroyo-allied family. The augmentation force, numbering around 400, would provide security to the provincial capitol and the Ampatuans' residences in Shariff Aguak town, according to Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., chief of the Armed Forces' public information office. "This is to maintain the peace and order situation and prevent retaliation from the victims’ family. At the same time, they (soldiers) were sent to prevent other groups from taking advantage of the situation," Brawner said. At present, there are four infantry battalions and two mechanized units in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato city - the three areas placed under state of emergency after the massacre. Normally there are only two battalions deployed in the area, Brawner said, with each battalion composed of 400 to 500 soldiers.

Threat Brawner said the troops would provide security to two of the Ampatuans' "main houses" in Shariff Aguak, one of which is in front of the capitol. "One of the purposes why we deployed troops right at the residences of the Ampatuans is to prevent authorized people from getting into the compound. People with bad intentions may slip inside by posing as supporters," he said. Outdoor trips of the Ampatuan family members have also been limited, according to Brawner. "We are also controlling their movement out of their residence because there are threats to their lives. They cannot just go out of their residence and go elsewhere because of (the) specific threats to their lives," he said. He noted the possibility that supporters of the Ampatuans' rival clan, the Mangudadatus, may avenge the grisly deaths of several Mangudadatu family members in the massacre. Aside from members of the Mangudadatu family, 31 journalists and several unsuspecting motorists were also killed in the mass killing that has received worldwide indignation, including from the United Nations and the European Union. The victims were on their way to Shariff Aguak to file the candidacy documents of Buluan Vice Mayor Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu when waylaid by dozens of armed men allegedly upon orders from Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who is now detained in Manila his arrest Thursday last week. Brawner said they are also protecting the Ampatuans against Moro rebels. Backup force Brawner said the troops were also deployed to assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in serving arrest warrants, suspension orders and help maintain the peace and order situation. [See: AFP all set to serve warrants, other orders vs Ampatuans] There is no timeline up to when the military would stay in the province, Brawner said, adding the troops would stay there “as long as they are needed." On Wednesday, the PNP have recommended the filing of charges against Ampatuan Jr. and five other members of the Ampatuan clan, including its patriarch Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the incumbent governor of Maguindanao. The recommendation against Andal Jr. was on top the 25 murder charges the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed against him in Cotobato city on Tuesday. He is now under the custody of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after witnesses claimed that he was present at the massacre site during the killing. The Ampatuans, for their part, have repeatedly denied involvement in the killing. - KBK, GMANews.TV