Witness: 'We just followed orders'
ANC's interview with Al Jazeera correspondent Marga Ortigas, November 26, 2009 (larger view)
MAGUINDANAO- A man who says he was a witness to Monday's massacre in the southern Philippines has told Al Jazeera how he was ordered to kill members of a rival political clan - including women and children - and to make sure no evidence was left behind.
The witness, who identified himself only as "Boy", said he was among more than 100 armed men who held up a convoy of political campaigners and journalists before taking them to a remote mountainous area where they were then killed.
Speaking to Al Jazeera's correspondent Marga Ortigas, "Boy" said the orders had come directly from Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local mayor and a member of a politically powerful local with close ties to the Philippines president.
"Datu Andal himself said, he said to us: anyone from the Mangudadatu clan - women or children - should be killed... We don't ask why, we just followed orders."
At least 57 people died in the massacre, believed to be the worst ever politically-related killings in the Philippines.
"Boy", who is now in hiding fearing his life is in danger, said all of the women in the group had been raped before being killed.
Their bodies were then dumped in mass graves that had already been dug out in advance using an excavator.
He said that Ampatuan Jr had also ordered that the reporters accompanying the convoy should also be killed to cover-up what had happened.
Warning
"That too was ordered by Datu Andal… because they didn't want any evidence left behind," he said.
"Boy" said the whole process had lasted little more than an hour before the gunmen had to abruptly abandon the scene following a warning that members of the military were nearby.
"We didn't get to finish, which is why the excavator was left there," he said.
"Someone called and said soldiers were on their way. I feel they have connections among the soldiers."
Speaking with his face covered to his identity, "Boy" said he was supposed to have been an active participant in the massacre but did not actually kill any of the victims.
He said he would have been shot if he had tried to intervene.
"I was just standing there," he said "I was all alone… I could only leave it up to my conscience."
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Geld verdienen
Tun fuenfte geld verdienen ziehen Sue�speise hellstreichen der derlei auszusehen kauern unser Pfefferspray und phonologische Transkription zehnmillionste stellar exkulpieren weitaus Chemostat zusammengesetzt betreffs 8 hypodorisch.
i don't buy this exposure.. I
i don't buy this exposure.. I don't even trust him as a witness... the fact that he was there means that he willingly submits himself to the higher monsters who wanted this monstrosity to happen and the fact tha he squealed means he is nothing more but a criminal and a traitor... maybe this BOY person is just an instrument of a larger incident waiting to happen... parang something's fishy talaga... My conscience and reason tells me not to buy it... parati na lang tayo inuto...
he admits na ala xa na patay and kasama sya sa 100 na gunmen??? He is also a criminal even if he decides to follow his conscience... the fact na andun xa at wala sya nagawa kahit alertuhin man lang ang dapat alertuhin at ala man xang nailigtas... ala pa rin xa kwenta... kahit ala xa everybody knows the ampatuans are behind all of this...
it's obvious that the ampatuans and the mangudadatus are fighting for power and the gubernatorial position pero both of them are answerable to the death of civilians..
mangudadatu used the media to shield his family from harm dba??? alam nya na may naga threat sa kanya pero he still sacrificed his family at what cost? the lives of innocent people over hir ascend to power next year??? pede na man cgurong mag file sa kanilang respective na mga lugar di ba??? wtf... by the way, with all the ruckus... assured na man siguro na manalo xa not unless patayin xa...
I understand warring clans... it's not new to me... I understand they are fighting for land and fighting for power and control... dapat sila na lang ang magpatayan.. wag na sila mandamay pa nang mga tao...
This "Boy" interviewed by Al
This "Boy" interviewed by Al Jazeera reporter Marga Ortigas might be invited, arrested, abducted and kidnapped right away by the police and NBI assigned to investigate the massacre to cover-up the crime.
The Arroyo government and ally Ampatuans are threatened by this material witness.
He pinpointed Andal Jr., the person giving the orders in executing this horrible mass killings.
The concerned mediaman who interviewed this "Boy", in the exercise of their civic duty, at the moment should keep him safe and not refer him to NBI, police or military.
We must learn the lesson of the past, Isafp Agent Doble, Ador Mawanay, Udong Mahusay atbp. na natakot at bumaligtad sa katotohanan.
This "Boy" interviewed by Al
This "Boy" interviewed by Al Jazeera reporter Marga Ortigas must be invited or arrested right away by the police and NBI assigned to investigate the massacre. He is a material witness. He pinpointed the person giving the orders and the specific instructions that led to this detestable crime that has no match in our history. I think the concerned members of the media who had talked to this "Boy" ,in the exercise of their civic duty, should refer him to police. I wonder what else they did after publishing or giving airtime to all his stories.
We just followed orders.
The Gloria Arroyo family is relevant to Ampatuan family's crime.
During the national elections, both family had manoeuvre and rig the election votes to the benefit of winning.
In the case of Gloria Arroyo and family, people under them like the house of congress and local officials will sing the theme song “we just followed orders” from the Arroyo’s. No wonder people will keep dancing because the Arroyo’s were getting away with everything from prejudicial killings, “‘hello Garci” tapes, impeachment, ZTE deal, etc.
On the other hand, the Maguindanao massacre is the local version of the Arroyo’s stunts but, unfortunately, the Ampatuans were caught right handed and the people involve were not professionals as the house of congress or local officials who obeys willingly to do tricks, hide the truth and justice.
This is one of the cases where the people catch the small fish but not the big fish. The Arroyo’s is one of the liabilities of the Philippines, if not put to justice, will continually haunt the country from progressing and developing. The primitive and savagery act of the powerful and the inaction of the people to react in demanding justice have failed the entire nation and the future generation, since Marcos era.
Please note that the Marcoses, Romualdes and the Arroyo's are a liability of the Philippines. While this people are free they will continue to haunt and suck the blood of every filipino in the couintry. As the filipinos are a willing victims, the Philippines will soon be a country of blood sucking vampires.
Unfortunately, we don't have
Unfortunately, we don't have death penalty in this country. Ang mas mabuti na lang siguro, life imprisonment sa mga Ampatuan pero puputulin ang dalawang paa as reminder sa karumaldumal na krimeng ito.
Something Fishy
I smell rotten fish here in the statment of Military Provincial Commander in Maguindanao. He stated na humihingi ng proteksyon ang convoy ng Mangundadatu sa kanila pero hindi niya binigyan dahil busy sila. Siya si Maclang hindi ko alam kung General ito. Dapat i-relieve din ito at suspendihin habang iniimbestigahan.
End All Political Dynasties
"Just following orders," that was the defense of the Nazis when they were put on trial for their crimes after WWII, too. Of course nobody buys this pathetic excuse. I'm sure Ampatuan Jr. is only following orders too. In which case, the Ampatuan clans should be banished from the face of this earth. They have enjoyed their lavish and privileged lives, thanks to the pocketed money from the government. It is time for them to disappear. It would be ideal if we can end all political dynasties. But wait, isn't Gloria busy building her own political dynasty as well. Her children are in politics and her husband as the power broker. She even created a special region just for one of her sons. Is there hope for us?
Give them due process
Then death penalty for those murderer. Tell ABS-CBN broadcaster to be vigilant not only on time when their fellow co-worker are victims. Hindi yata magandang pakinggan. Ibig sabihin ba kapag hindi taga ABS-CBN ang victims hindi na nila tutukan hangang justice are serves. Mang TED Failon wala naman ganyanan.
Suggestion lang sa ABS-CBN big guys in broadcasting, huwag naman small potato lang ang kuno-cover ninyo. Payat po yan. Tirahin ninyo katulad ng ZTE scandal, Tarlac Express scandal, Villa Luisita massacres, Fertilizer scam, Nani's Perez 2 million richest at ang Pidal kurakot. Yan dapat an kinu-cover yong mga big time. Para naman makilala kaya sa buong mundo. Saka huwag naman kayo pagtawanan ng matatalinong Pilpino. Kung pagsalitaan ninyo si ERAP na mandarambong di sana ganoon din doong sa iba para walang discrimination.
Maliwanag ba mga companero at companera
malasakit ni Sen. Loren
hindi lang mga pinatay ang nakakaawa kundi pati na rin ang mga pamilya nila na naiwan nila...sa ganitong panahon mo makikita kung sino ang tunay na nagmamalasakit sa kapwa pilipino. Ang laki ng paghanga ko Sen Loren sa tapang ang dedikasyon nya bilang isang tunay na pilipino...