Ampatuan scion expects peace from Gov 'Toto'

Mamasapano, Maguindanao — Counting on the post-proclamation statement of Governor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, a scion of the Ampatuan clan, some of whose members have been linked to the November 2009 massacre in the province, is expecting for peace and reconciliation. Mayor Benzar Ampatuan, a grandson of one of the accused in the carnage Andal Ampatuan Sr., expressed hope Mangudadatu would fulfill his promise of peace. “Behind the [gentle] face of governor Mangudadatu na napaka amo, marami ang hindi nakakikilala sa kanya. I hope he will deliver on [his promise] with sincerity and right attitude," said the young Ampatuan, a former head Manila Liaison group for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). At a press conference right after his proclamation Mangudadatu said, “Not every Ampatuan is involved in the merciless killings in November 23, and I intend to have peace with them. In doing such quest, I maybe a governor of the good, the bad and the ugly." Mangudadatu’s wife and close relatives were among the 57 people killed in that massacre in Ampatuan Town last year. Late in March this year, the Department of Justice ordered the arrest of 189 suspects in the carnage, including former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., Zaldy Ampatuan, Sajid Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan, and Akmad Ampatuan, the father of Mayor Benzar. The prime suspects of the killings, Andal Ampatuan Jr. was taken under police custody shortly after the incident. At a press conference last Thursday, Benzar also said the Benigno Aquino III administration must expedite the resolution of the case as the Ampatuans are innocent. Meanwhile, Rebecca Ampatuan, former executive secretary of the ARMM and Andal Sr.’s daughter told GMANEWS.TV on Wednesday they were happy the media visited their municipality, once again, without any fear. Since the massacre in nearby Ampatuan town, Mamasapano has been perceived as a dangerous place for strangers, especially the members of the media. Rebecca made an appeal to President Aquino to order thorough investigation of the massacre, even as she asked the media to be fair in reporting the case. “I am asking the media to be fair in reporting because not all the incidents in the military siege in the mansion of my father was seen on television, read in the newspaper and was broadcast on the radio," said Rebecca, also a sister of former ARMM Gov.Zaldy Ampatuan. She further said their children are now experiencing trauma because of the incident. “Sila din ay may mga anak, ayaw ng pumasok ang aming mga anak sa paaralan, pag nakakakita ng mga naka uniporming sundalo ay natatakot na sila." Also, She expressed hope somebody would listen to their side. “Saan ka nakakita pitong taon nang nakalibing ay hinukay pa ng mga sundalo dahil daw may mga nakatagong armas sa ilalim?" She said that the reported caches of arms and ammunition found at his father’s mansions were from the military. “Nanawagan ako sa mga nakaupong opisyal sa bagong administrasyon na pakingan naman sana ang aming panig dahil hindi lahat na napakingan at nakita ay totoo (I am appealing to new government officials to listen to our side because not all that we hear and see in the reports are true," she added. For his part, Mayor Benzar said that after the military and the police issued a statement declaring the town a safe place, he has been inviting people to pay a visit. To recall, on November 23, 2009, the Mangudadatus sent a convoy of relatives, women lawyers and 32 journalists to the provincial office of the Commission on Elections in Shariff Aguak town to file the certificate of candidacy for governor of the vice mayor Mangudadatu. The convoy was stopped by armed men believed led by Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. who would have been the Ampatuans’ candidate for governor. Along with six others who happened to pass the highway at the wrong time, they were herded into Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town, where they were massacred – at least 57 of them – 35 of them buried in three mass graves. — LBG, GMANews.TV