We're govt allies, not enemies - Ampatuan relatives, follower

Two relatives and an alleged follower of the Ampatuan clan who were slapped with rebellion charges after the November 23 Maguindanao massacre have insisted that they were allies, and not enemies of the government. Radio dzMM said Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Datu Saudi Ampatuan Jr., Datu Odin Sinsuat Mayor Ombra Sinsuat, and Barira Mayor Alexander Tumawis on Tuesday filed their counter-affidavits to the Department of Justice. Saudi is the grandson of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr; Sinsuat is also a relative of the Ampatuans, while Tumawis is reportedly a supporter of the powerful political clan. The DOJ is conducting preliminary investigation into the supposed plan of the Ampatuan clan to take up arms against the government – as shown by the discovery of hidden firearms in Mindanao and alleged massing up of the family's supporters. In their response to the charges, Ampatuan, Sinsuat, and Tumawis submitted a certificate from the Philippine National Police Intelligence Division in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, acknowledging that the powerful clan was a supporter of the local police. Besides the three government officials, no one from the more than 600 respondents in the rebellion case filed by the PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was able to submit a counter-affidavit. Hundreds of respondents were given until December 28 to submit counter affidavits but the DOJ panel extended the deadline after they failed to meet it. The DOJ panel investigating the case said if the respondents still fail to hand over their affidavits by January 22, the case will automatically be submitted for resolution. The Justice panel said it wanted to find out if there is probable cause to recommend the filing of rebellion charges against the respondents in less than two months. Strike them off Meanwhile, Buluan vice mayor Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu, a known Ampatuan rival, also showed up in Tuesday's hearing and asked the DOJ panel to take out 10 individuals from the charge sheet. Mangudadatu's wife and relatives were among the people in the electoral convoy that were massacred in November 23 in Datu Unsay town, an Ampatuan clan stronghold. In an affidavit, the Buluan vice mayor said 10 of the respondents were mistaken for Ampatuan supporters, when they were actually allies of the Mangudadatu clan. Among those being requested to be absolved in the case were Jehairi Maviña, Jerry Gutierrez, Henry Maurumiar, and Lido Pagkaulan. Security was tight during the two-hour preliminary investigation. Only government-run television station NBN was allowed to cover the hearing, prompting other media organizations to hook up their equipment with the state-led network. - GMANews.TV