Andal Sr ordered the killing of Mangudadatus, witness claims

“Kill them all." This was the order that Andal Ampatuan Sr., the patriarch of the powerful and Arroyo-allied Ampatuan clan, allegedly gave on November 22, the day before the gory massacre of 57 people took place in Maguindanao. In his affidavit submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Kenny Dalandag, a member of the Ampatuans’ private army, narrated that on that day, Andal Sr. met with Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, Sajid Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan, Saudi Ampatuan Jr., Ban and Ulo Ampatuan inside his mansion. His alleged order: “Kung dumaan ang mga Mangudadatu, ubusin sila lahat, pati mga bata, walang itirang buhay kahit isa (If the Mangudadatus pass through, wipe them out, including the children, don’t leave anyone alive)." Dalandag’s affidavit was the subject of a report by GMA News’ John Consulta, aired over the “24 Oras" news program. 'Son, you know what you must do' On the day of the bloodbath, vice mayor Rasul Sangki, who claimed to have witnessed the killing, said he overheard Andal Sr. reminding his son and namesake Andal Jr. of what to do with the Mangudadatus, their rival political clan. In a separate affidavit, Sangki said Andal Jr. radioed his father after receiving information from Police Inspector Sukarno Dicay, deputy chief of the Maguindanao provincial police office, that the convoy had already been intercepted in Sitio Malating. Andal Jr. even asked Dicay if any in the convoy was armed, to which Dicay replied in the negative and said they were mostly women. "Father, they're already here," Andal Jr. allegedly told his father. "Son, you already know what you must do," Andal Sr. replied. Then Datu Unsay (Andal Jr.’s native name) pulled two women out of the van, according to Sangki, who identified them as Bai Eden and Bai Farina, both sisters of Buluan vice mayor Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu. "(Andal Jr.) forcibly dragged them and loaded them in a black (Toyota) Revo owned by Datu Kanor Ampatuan," Sangki said. Dalandag said Andal Jr. also dragged Mangudadatu's wife, Bai Gigi, out of the car. "She was holding a cellphone as if talking to somebody, Datu Unsay slapped her," Dalandag said, adding he witnessed the actual killing and how the victims were buried using a backhoe. Victims shot almost pointblank After pulling out the female Mangudadatus, Andal Jr. then positioned himself two meters away from the victims and aimed his high powered gun at them. "Then (he) started shooting the victims as soon as they were brought in front of him, some were already on their knees, crying and shouting for mercy," said Sangki. "In fact, one media known to Datu Unsay who fondly called him 'Pal-ak' pleaded for his life but still (Andal Jr.) shot him to death," Sangki added, referring to Jimmy Cabillo of the Midland Review, who was one of the 31 journalists killed on November 23. But the pleas were left unheard. Andal Jr. even kept on shooting at the bodies while laughing at the top of his voice, according to Sangki. "Datu Kanor, the vice mayor of Salibo, Maguindanao, Datu Banarin Ampatuan, the vice mayor of Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Parido Zangkalagogo and Datu Mama Ampatu arrived at the scene and joined Datu Unsay in shooting the victims," Sangki said. The witness accounts by Dalandag and Sangki appear to agree with the sworn statements made by key witness PO1 Rainer Ebus, which revealed the relative positions of the suspects within the crime scene before, during and after the victims were gunned down. [See: Andal Jr mowed down victims with K3 gun, witness tells CIDG] The camp of Mangudadatu, meanwhile, welcomed the testimonies. "We are very happy with what is going on with the case. We are very sure that they will be appearing in trial as soon as the cases information are filed in court," said Nena Santos, legal counsel for the Mangudadatus. Richard Fadullon, assistant chief prosecutor of the Justice Department, for his part said the government would have to go over the records to see if they need to subpoena those that were implicated in the affidavits. – Aie Balagtas See/JV, GMANews.TV