MANILA, Philippines - The military on Monday recovered assorted ammunition in an abandoned house right near the mansion of Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

Elements of the 46th Infantry Batallion based in Datu Unsay and Shariff Aguak found 12 rounds of 90 mm, 49 rounds of 81 mm and 22 rounds of 60 mm at a septic tank beside the Ampatuan mansion.

Lt. Col. Raul Cestona, 46th IB commander, said a tipster informed them that there were armed men digging in an abandoned house in Shariff Aguak. "We immediately checked it out and it was positive but the [civilian volunteer organizations] who were digging had already left," he said.

Police Superintendent Alex Lineses, Maguindanao police provincial director, said the house was owned by a certain Noridia Usman. He said he talked to relatives of Usman who denied being related to Ampatuan.

He added that all ammunitions recovered in Maguindanao since January this year are in the custody of the military.

Members of the Ampatuan clan, headed by Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., are accused of murdering 57 people in an election-related massacre in Maguindanao last November 23. The military has recovered various firearms and ammunition from properties of the Ampatuans since November.