Shock with intensity: 2 Ampatuan followers killed in clash

Monday, March 1, 2010

2 Ampatuan followers killed in clash

Monday, March 01, 2010 |

Posted by zilljanmark

source: AP, John Unson - philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - Troops clashed yesterday with armed followers of the Ampatuans who were arrested in connection with the country’s worst election-related massacre, killing two gunmen, the military said.

Troops on combat patrol confronted about 30 men in the outskirts of Maguindanao, triggering a gunfight that killed two, said military spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang.

Prosecutors have charged Andal Ampatuan Sr., a former three-term Maguindanao governor, and his son, Andal Ampatuan Jr., with murder in connection with the killings of 57 people on Nov. 23.

Among the massacre victims were supporters and relatives of Esmael Mangudadatu, mayor of Buluan town who is running for governor of the province.

The victims were headed to the Commission on Elections office to file Mangudadatu’s candidacy papers when they were killed, along with at least 30 journalists and staff members who were providing news coverage of the event.

The Ampatuans have denied the charges, and most of their followers have fled a crackdown in the province.

Still, thousands of militiamen loyal to the Ampatuan clan are in hiding and considered a security threat in Maguindanao. They are being pursued by government troops.

“Those who remain in hiding are the ones probably directly involved in the massacre,” said Cabangbang, adding that thousands of troops continue to provide security in the impoverished province.

Despite the prevailing tension in Maguindanao, meanwhile, leaders of feuding clans aspiring for various elective positions in the province signed yesterday a peace covenant enjoining them to abide by the Omnibus Election Code to ensure peaceful elections in the province.

The activity was jointly organized by the Comelec, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, and Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, newly installed police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Mangudadatu and his fellow gubernatorial bets – his relative, Mayor Ombra Sinsuat of Datu Odin town, and Mayor Antao Midtimbang of Talayan town – signed the covenant.

The first to sign the covenant among the candidates for vice governor was Dustin Mastura, son of lawyer Michael Mastura, senior member of the peace panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Leaders of rival clans running for elective positions sat side by side and listened to speakers before signing the peace covenant.

The police and military have provided an equal number of security escorts for Sinsuat, Mangudadatu and Midtimbang to ensure their safety when they move around.

Sources in the ARMM’s local government department said more than 20 of the 36 mayors in Maguindanao are politically aligned with Sinsuat.

Mangudadatu’s gubernatorial bid is backed by his siblings, who are mayors of Buluan, Mangudadatu and Paglas towns, and the Mastura clan in the first district of the province, which has political control of Sultan Mastura and Sultan Kudarat towns.

Relatives of Ampatuan Sr. also showed up during the event.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Hao, civil relations chief of the 6th ID, said they are confident that the peace covenant would work.

“By the cooperation alone of the candidates who signed the agreement, we can surmise that we will indeed have peaceful elections in Maguindanao. The 6th ID appreciates the gesture of the signatories to the document,” he said.

Hao said the 6th ID has been tightly monitoring the political situation in Maguindanao.

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2 Ampatuan followers killed in clash

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