Mangudadatu: 3 wanted Ampatuans seen roaming free in Maguindanao

Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto" Mangudadatu on Thursday claimed that some members of the Ampatuan clan wanted for the massacre of 57 people on November 23, 2009 are freely roaming the province in full view of soldiers. Talking to reporters at the sidelines of Thursday's hearing in Taguig City, Mangudadatu, who lost his wife and two sisters in the massacre, said the suspects were even seen playing basketball with soldiers outside a military camp in Rajah Buayan town. Mangudadatu identified the suspects as Bahnarin Ampatuan, Ulo Ampatuan, and Anwar "Ipi" Ampatuan Jr, all charged with 57 counts of murder and have P300,000 bounty each for their arrest. The three are grandsons of clan patriarch and fellow accused Andal Ampatuan Sr. Bahnarin is a former mayor of Mamasapano town, while Ipi is a former councilor of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. [See related: Wanted - More than 100 suspects in Ampatuan massacre] “Nakikita sila doon na nakikipag-basketball pa sa mga sundalo at hindi sila hinuhuli," said Mangudadatu, who was vice mayor of Buluan town when the massacre occurred. He, however, admitted that he did not personally see the suspects playing basketball with soldiers, saying he was only informed about it. The Mangudadatus are political rivals of the Ampatuans. The Maguindanao governor also said that someone, whom he refused to identify for security reasons, has already sent a complaint letter about it to the Office of the President and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Mangudadatu said the letter complaint was filed around two weeks ago. Mangudadatu said a ranking local military official in the province has been “protecting" the three Ampatuans. Defense lawyers were not immediately available for comment as the hearing was ongoing as of posting time. Among those implicated in the massacre were Andal Sr. and his two sons Andal Jr. and Zaldy, a suspended governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). — KBK, GMA News