Biggest stockpile of arms found in Maguindanao

Authorities on Thursday unearthed what they said was the biggest stockpile of firearms and ammunition that allegedly belonged to the powerful Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao province, a television report said. In his report, GMA News' Emil Sumangil said among the unearthed items were about 5,000 pieces of 50-cal. ammunition, about 300 pieces of 30-cal. ammunition, Armalite magazines, and knapsacks containing a laptop, digital cameras, and several documents. Separately found within the Ampatuan compound in Shariff Aguak were gun parts that can be assembled into at least six pieces of 50-cal machine guns, some military boots, and several unused fatigue uniforms. The items were found in the house of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., the patriarch of the powerful political family implicated in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people, including women and journalists. Dried coconut husks were used to cover the location of the buried items, the report said.

GMA's Sumangil quoted officials as saying that Thursday's find was so far the biggest ever since the government started scouring the province for hidden weaponry over the weekend, when the imposition of martial law over Maguindanao was announced. The same report said the raiding team composed of police and military personnel were initially blocked from entering the compound by two water tankers placed at the gate. A lawyer of the embattled family also emerged to question the warrant-less search. Authorities, however, contended that a warrant-less search is allowed under martial rule, which President Macapagal Arroyo imposed on the whole Maguindanao province Friday night last week. Also found inside the property were at least 20 sports utility vehicle (SUVs). Riolen Gillesania, a lawyer of the Ampatuans, said the discovered firearms and ammunition do not belong to his clients and hinted that the items may have been planted there. "Hindi naman natin masabi kung sino nagmamay-ari niyan. Sigurado po na hindi po iyan pag-aari ng mga Ampatuan. Posibleng may ibang naglagay diyan," he said. (We don't know who put those items there, but we are sure that those do not belong to the Ampatuans. Someone else might have buried them there.) Military and police forces had already raided the property twice in the last few days but they were unable to find any firearms or ammunition. However, new intelligence information from concerned citizens led authorities where exactly in the compound to look for them. Last Saturday, authorities found thousands of rounds of M16 ammunition and several armored vehicles inside a warehouse beside a government food warehouse. Just outside, the military also unearthed M16 rifles and magazine boxes. On Monday, authorities unearthed sacks of weaponry buried at the back of the newly-constructed municipal hall of Ampatuan town. The buried sacks contained 16 Armalite and M14 assault rifles, as well as ammunition. The municipal hall was situated not far from the checkpoint were the convoy led by the Mangudadatus were stopped. On Tuesday, more high-powered firearms were recovered in a septic tank located at the back of the house of chief security officer of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) in Cotabato City. Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman, identified the CVO member as one Macapagal Kamendan alias "Marlboro." Recovered from the tank were high-powered firearms that included an M60 machine gun, five M14 rifles, 5 M203 grenadelaunchers, and 16 M14 rifles. In a separate operation on Tuesday, authorities also found a number of firearms at a bushy portion at the back of the house of Maguindanao vice governor Akmad Ampatuan, nephew of clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr, in the provincial capital of Shariff Aguak. Lt. Col. Edgardo de Leon, commander of the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion, said among the recovered high-powered firearms were a 50-cal machine gun, an M1 Garande rifle, and a barrel of ammunition for M16 assault rifles. - KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV