More suspects being probed in Philippines massacre+
Nov 27 05:59 AM US/Eastern
MANILA, Nov. 27 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Eight more members of the political clan that allegedly plotted Monday's poll-related massacre of 57 unarmed civilians on the southern island of Mindanao are being investigated, a senior Philippine justice official said Friday.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera also said the government has a "good case" against Andal Ampatuan Jr., the main suspect who was taken into custody on Thursday.
Ampatuan Jr. is a local mayor in Maguindanao Province and the son of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr.
She quoted witnesses as saying that the younger Ampatuan shot some of the massacre victims himself. So far she said her department has collected 30 affidavits.
"We are continuing to build the cases against the eight other suspects in the case," she told reporters.
Aside from Ampatuan Jr., authorities have also taken into custody at least 20 militiamen and four police officers who might have links with the carnage, which drew condemnation from around the world.
Authorities are looking for the operator of a backhoe used to bury the victims. The excavating machine was traced to the provincial government.
The Philippine military high command has also relieved at least two military ground commanders due to "misconduct" and "failure of intelligence."
However, the Mangudadatus, who have a running feud with the Ampatuan clan over control of Maguidanao, are calling for more arrests. The Ampatuans, a close political ally of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, have ruled Maguidanao for years.
As of Friday noon, Col. Jonathan Ponce, a spokesman for the army, said the military has so far recovered 392 firearms from the Ampatuans.
Also recovered were two improvised armored vehicles with Philippine National Police markings and camouflage, Ponce said.
Also Friday, Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, who lost his wife and supporters in the massacre, registered his candidacy for governor of Maguindanao, saying only death will stop him from pursuing his political plans.
Escorted by military and police, Mangudadatu submitted his documents to the local election office in Shariff Aguak, making official his plan to replace Ampatuan Sr. as governor.
The 50-car convoy took the same highway were the six-car convoy of Mangudadatu's wife, two sisters, supporters and journalists were stopped and eventually gunned down by about 100 armed men identified with the Ampatuans.
Ampatuan Jr. is now being detained at a National Bureau of Investigation jail while awaiting a decision by the Justice Department on whether to file multiple murder charges against him.
He has protested his innocence, saying it was staged by the country's largest secessionist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The Ampatuans claim the MILF is out to destroy the reputation of their clan, prompting them to arm about 400 militiamen for protection.
The MILF, which denied involvement in Monday's carnage, has condemned what it described as a "barbaric massacre." They urged Arroyo to "act fast, fairly and apprehend the criminals."
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Topic: Maguindanao Massacre News Update (Read 5291 times)