The brutal massacre of 57 people in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province was believed to have been staged by about a hundred men. But as it turned out, the number of perpetrators was more than what police had initially estimated.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa confirmed that at least 161 armed men had participated in the massacre in the province. He added they would recommend rewards for those who could give information on the whereabouts of the men who are still at large. "We are now conducting arrests and we will be recommending a reward for any leads to the arrest of these persons — 161 in total. Reportedly, some of them joined rebellious forces that are now conducting rebellion in Maguindanao," Verzosa said.
Journalists look at the mug shots of CVOs allegedly involved in the Ampatuan town massacre during a press briefing at Camp Crame on Wednesday. Mark Adrian
He divulged the information in a press conference inside Camp Crame, where the PNP’s Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) presented a background of the November 23 massacre. The armed men were allegedly members of the private militia of the powerful Ampatuan clan. The government placed Maguindanao under martial law last Friday because the armed groups were supposedly threatening to mount a rebellion in the province.
- RSJ/NPA/TJD, GMANews.TV 
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