Prime suspect in Philippine massacre to be charged

UPDATED:

AMPATUAN, Philippines (AP) — A scion of a powerful pro-government clan has turned himself in and will face murder charges for allegedly leading the massacre of 57 people in an election caravan in the southern Philippines, the chief prosecutor said Thursday.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is under mounting pressure to crack down on lawlessness and warlords. The dead from Monday’s massacre included at least 18 journalists and the wife, family and dozens of supporters of a gubernatorial candidate who wanted to challenge the rival Ampatuan clan, which has ruled Maguindanao province unopposed for years.

Andal Ampatuan Jr., a town mayor who allegedly stopped the convoy with dozens of police and pro-government militiamen, surrendered Thursday to presidential adviser Jesus Dureza in the provincial capital, military commander Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer said.

“The family voluntarily surrendered him and they agreed that he will be investigated,” Ferrer said.

As he was ferried from his home province, Ampatuan tried to hide his face with a scarf. Later, when he was asked by reporters if he was involved in the killings, Ampatuan, replied: “There is no truth to that. The reason I came out is to prove that I am not hiding and that I am not guilty.”

Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno said he has instructed his staff to work overnight to be able to meet a 36-hour legal deadline for filing charges following Ampatuan’s arrest. He is the only suspect identified so far.

Zuno said he expects the charges to be filed Friday in southern Cotabato city, which is closest to the massacre site, but the trial would take place in Manila.

“As of now, (Ampatuan) is the only one included in the charge, because investigation is ongoing and we expect further developments after this,” Zuno said.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said he had warned Ampatuan’s family they risked a military attack unless they turned him over by midday Thursday.

As a helicopter carrying Ampatuan took off from the Maguindanao provincial capital for General Santos, shots rang out but the aircraft was not hit, Ferrer said. It wasn’t clear who fired the shots.

The Ampatuan clan helped Arroyo and her allies win the 2004 presidential and 2007 senatorial elections by delivering crucial votes.

Arroyo’s ruling party, in an emergency meeting late Wednesday, expelled Ampatuan, his father and a brother.

Ampatuan’s surrender followed days of discussions between his family and Dureza, apparently in a bid to prevent hostilities between the clan’s followers and government forces.

The area around the provincial capital was tense after troops disarmed nearly 400 pro-government militiamen loyal to the Ampatuans. Such militias are meant to act as an auxiliary force to the military and police in fighting rebels and criminals but often serve as politicians’ private armies.

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