Security tightened in 'Massacre Land'

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / November 30, 2009) – Philippine authorities have tightened security in the southern province of Maguindanao as police investigators continue searching for more evidence that would help resolve the grisly killings of 57 people blamed to the scion of a powerful Muslim clan in Mindanao.

Police have charged Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jnr for the November 23 attack on a convoy of supporters of rival Buluan town deputy mayor Esmael Mangudadatu in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

Security forces also raided Monday the house of a police officer in Cotabato City who is being sought by authorities in connection with the murders and seized assorted guns and munitions, GMA television reported.

It said the officer was not in the house when soldiers and policemen raided the place. It said the officer have not reported for work after his name was implicated in the killings.

Hundred of supporters of the Ampatuan clan held a rally Sunday in Shariff Aguak town where the two governors met with their political allies. Police said the rally ended peacefully.

“We have put up many checkpoints and tightened security in the province to prevent the entry or exit of weapons. There is a total gun ban and we are enforcing the law,” said Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, the regional police chief.

He said police and military are also gathering more information about the brutal killings and those who participated in the attack. “At the moment, we are gathering more intelligence about the killings and the perpetrators of these heinous crimes,” he said.

Of the 57 killed in the attack, at least 30 journalists and the Mangudadatu’s wife and two sisters were among those mercilessly killed. Ampatuan Jnr denied masterminding the attack, but Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said there were witnesses who pointed to the politician as the alleged leader of the group that abducted and killed the 57 people.

Devanadera said they are also investigating the mayor’s father Andal Ampatuan Snr, the governor of Maguindanao, and his elder brother, Zaldy Ampatuan, the governor of the Muslim autonomous region, and five more clan members in connection with gruesome killings. The Ampatuans are key political allies of Arroyo in the southern Philippines.

The journalists were traveling in a convoy with the wife and relatives and supporters of Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu in Maguindanao’s Shariff Aguak town when they were held by more than 100 gunmen from a rival faction and herded to a remote hillside where they were executed.

Mangudadatu and the young Ampatuan are both running for governor in next year’s polls.

Those killed were buried in two mass graves, including the wreckage of two private cars and a media van, where at least four mangled bodies had been pulled out. A backhoe owned by the Maguindanao provincial government was recovered in the area and was believed used to excavate the graves in the town of Ampatuan.

The Philippine military relieved Major General Alfredo Cayton, chief of the 6th Infantry Division, and Colonel Medardo Geslani, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, for failing to prevent the gruesome killings. Both are under investigations in Manila.

Human rights activists also urged the police and the military to secure warrants from courts and search the mansions of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao province for illegal weapons after receiving reports that huge caches of firearms, munitions are allegedly being kept in arsenals inside the houses.

Arroyo placed Maguindanao under a state of emergency and security forces have taken control of the provincial capitol buildings and the town halls of Shariff Aguak and Ampatuan. Soldiers also dismantled 347 government militias under the control of the Ampatuan clan and recalled troops assigned with the Ampatuans as bodyguards.

Different media groups have condemned the killings of the journalists whose names were listed below and one more is still missing.

1. Adolfo, Benjie of Gold Star Daily, a regional newspaper; a resident of Koronadal City; 2. Araneta, Henry of Radio dzRH; a resident of General Santos City; 3. Arriola, Mark Gilbert (nickname Mac Mac) of UNTV, a local branch of a television channel; a resident of General Santos City; 4. Bataluna, Rubello of Gold Star Daily; a resident of Koronadal City; 5. Betia, Arturo of Periodico Ini, a community newspaper; a resident of General Santos City; 6. Cabillo, Romeo Jimmy of Midland Review, a community newspaper; a resident of Tacurong City; 7. Cablitas, Marites of News Focus; a resident of General Santos City; 8. Cachuela, Hannibal of Punto News; a resident of Koronadal City; 9. Caniban, John of Periodico Ini; a resident of General Santos City;10. Dalmacio, Lea of Socsargen News, a community newspaper; a resident of General Santos City.

11. Decina, Noel of Periodico Ini; a resident of General Santos City; 12. Dela Cruz, Gina of Saksi News; a resident of General Santos City; 13. Dohillo, Eugene of UNTV; a resident of General Santos City, 14. Duhay, Jhoy of Gold Star Daily; a resident of Tacurong City; 15. Jun Gatchalian of Davao City; 16. Legarte, Bienvenido, Jr. of Prontiera News; a resident of Koronadal City; 17. Lupogan, Lindo of Mindanao Daily Gazette, a community newspaper; a resident of Davao City; 18. Maravilla, Ernesto (nickname Bart) of Bombo Radyo; a resident of Koronadal City; 19. Merisco, Rey of Periodico Ini; a resident of Koronadal City; 20. Momay, Reynaldo (nickname Bebot) Momay of Midland Review; a resident of Tacurong City.

21. Montaño, Marife, of Saksi News; a resident of General Santos City; 22. Morales, Rosell of News Focus; a resident of General Santos City; 23. Nuñez, Victor of UNTV a resident of General Santos City; 24. Perante, Ronnie of Gold Star Daily; a resident of Koronadal City; 25. Parcon, Joel of Prontiera News; a resident of Koronadal City; 26. Razon, Fernando (nickname Rani) of Periodico Ini; a resident of General Santos City; 27. Reblando, Alejandro (nickname Bong) of Manila Bulletin; a resident of General Santos City; 28. Salaysay, Napoleon of Mindanao Gazette; a resident of Cotabato City; 29. Subang, Ian of Socsargen Today, a community newspaper; a resident of General Santos City; 30. Teodoro, Andres (nickname Andy) of Central Mindanao Inquirer, a community newspaper; a resident of Tacurong City; 31. Evardo, Jolito of UNTV; a resident of General Santos City, whose body up to now is still missing. (Mindanao Examiner)