ARMM gov knew about massacre: witness
MANILA, Philippines - A government witness on Wednesday said Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan knew and approved of a plan to ambush supporters of the Mangudadatu clan last November.
Mohamad Sangki, a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Datu Abdullah Sangki and uncle of Ampatuan vice-mayor Rasul Sangki, said he was informed by a confidant of Ampatuan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. that the ARMM governor had also approved the plan to massacre supporters of the Mangudadatus.
Sangki said he was informed as early as November 19 that the Ampatuans were planning to stop the filing of certificate of candidacy of Buluan Vice-Mayor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, a political rival.
He said it was Datu Bahnarin Ampatuan, mayor of Mamasapano, who approached him and asked that he organize a police auxiliary force to block the convoy of Mangudadatu's wife, Bai Genalin.
Sangki's testimony corroborates the previous testimony of the Ampatuan vice-mayor, who had implicated members of the Ampatuan clan to the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province last November 23.
Defense lawyer Sigfrid Fortun, however, tried to impeach the witness's character by informing the court that Sangki has been indicted for three murders, is a suspect in an arson case, and is also under trial for another murder.
Mangudadatu to testify
Buluan Vice-Mayor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu is expected to testify later Wednesday on his last conversation with his wife, Bai Genalin, on the day of the massacre.
Mangudadatu had said that before his wife was killed, she was able to tell him through a mobile phone call that Datu Unsay Andal Ampatuan Jr. was leading the massacre of civilians in Barangay Saniag, Ampatuan town
Genalin and her 2 sisters-in-law, along with other members of their clan and at least 30 journalists, were on their way to the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak town to file a certificate of candidacy for governor on Mangudadatu's behalf when they were abducted and massacred by a group of at least 100 gunmen, allegedly led by Ampatuan Jr.
During Wednesday's hearing, a liaison officer of Smart Communications presented a copy of Mangudadatu's billing statement, proving that Genalin was able to call her husband on the day of the massacre. With a report from Patricia Evangelista, ANC
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kung ihanay at e segregate natin ang mga ampatuan cguro dapat sa kanila ay mabilang sa mga taong kriminal..kung hinahatulan natin c echegaray ng death penalty na isang nilalang lang ang kang ne rape,how much more itong mga ampatuan?sa bagay wala ng death penalty ngaun,pero maganda ito sa kanila dukutin sa bilanguan at ipadanas sa kanila kung ano ginawa nila sa mga taong pinatay at minasaker..ilang mga bata ang nawalan ng magulang?ilang mga babae ang nawalan ng asawa?
paano ang mga anak na naulila?paano ang kanilang kinabukasan?sino magpapaaral sa kanila?sagotin NIYO YAN MGA WALANG PUSO NA AMPATUAN NA KABILANG SA MASAKER..MGA HAYOP KAYO..
ILIBING NG PATAHIYA
DAPAT ANG MGA AMPATUAN'S NA SANGKOT SA MASAKER AY ILIBING NG BUHAY NA PATIHAYA PARA MARANASAN NILA KUNG ANO NAG HIRAP NA DINANAS NG KANILANG MGA BIKTIMA.....WALA SILANG KARAPATAN MANITILI DITO SA MUNDO MGA DEMONYO AT DYABLO SILA.
MAXIMUM LIFE???
AMPATUANS should be dealt with DEATH PENALTY!
They're all animals and should not be here on EARTH.
That's right more political
That's right more political violence may occur, especially now that the Philippines will be using computerized election. Those candidates who want to cheat in the election will now be difficult for them to manipulate the result and may lead them to eliminate their rivals.
POWER...
The political rift of both Ampatuans and Mangudadatus has been there for a long time. They fight and kill each other in the muslim manner, an eye for an eye. These people are used to killing and I am sure more killings will persist. The gov't failed to neutralized these political clans in the beginning. Worst, the gov't supported a clan just to satisfy greed. Of course we all know what is the return for such support...power ! Power is good but Power is something that should be controlled or else it will overcome us. It is certainly obvious that this power was abuse and resulted to this horrible tumult. In the end, I hope justice will prevail.