Rebellion raps filed vs 600 in massacre case

More than 600 people, including five members of the powerful Ampatuan clan, had been slapped with rebellion complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday. The complaint filed by Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) identified the alleged leaders of rebellion as Rajah Buayan Mayor Yacob Ampatuan, Mamasapano Mayor Banarin Ampatuan, Datu Ulo Ampatuan, Datu Ipi Ampatuan and Salibo Vice Mayor Datu Kanor Ampatuan. The names were among the five other leaders, 17 sub-leaders and 611 followers identified in the complaint submitted to Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño. Rebellion charges had been earlier filed by the DOJ against clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, Maguindanao Governor Sajid Islam Ampatuan, and Shariff Aguak mayor Anwar Ampatuan. Other Ampatuans already charged with rebellion before the Cotabato Regional Trial Court were Mayor Anwar Ampatuan, Akmad Tato Ampatuan, Goldo Ampatuan and Kaliangat Ampatuan. According to the CIDG complaint, the Ampatuans and their supporters held a meeting last November 28 in their residence in Shariff Aguak wherein Ampatuan Sr. and Yacob, reportedly his son-in-law, allegedly called on their armed supporters to resist and fight back the government forces. Security forces then were at the height of their crackdown on suspects in the grisly massacre of 57 people, including women and journalists, in Maguindanao, of which the Ampatuans are implicated. “Yun ang maganda. Dun tayo magkaisa (That’s good. Let’s unite in that regard). Let us use the thousands of guns that we have saved to fight the government," the complaint quoted Yacob as saying during the meeting. Ampatuan Sr., the complaint further stated, ordered his armed supporters to be ready for any eventuality. He also declared, “I call on you to use our force against the government if necessary." The alleged rebellion in Maguindanao became the basis for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to issue Proclamation 1959, which placed the entire province under military rule, last December 4. The government lifted the proclamation last December 12 amid criticisms from various sectors. “The unfolding of the events of taking up arms, abandonment and closure of local government offices... and the massing of Ampatuan’s private armies in different rural areas in Maguindanao are the conditions which developed into the withdrawal of allegiance by the political allies and supporters of the Ampatuan families, all of which forced the President to declare Martial Law in the province on December 4, 2009," said Senior Superintendent Benito Estipona, deputy director for operations of the CIDG. The CIDG complaint used as basis the testimonies of witnesses as well as photographic evidence of rally sites in urban areas in Maguindanao, the abandoned local government offices, and allies showing off their sophisticated firearms. The seized high-powered firearms, ammunition and armored vehicles from the Ampatuans were also used as evidence in the case. - KBK, GMANews.TV