Police convoy fired upon in Maguindanao
Roxas asks: Why transport evidence vs Ampatuans at night?
MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - A police convoy carrying evidence on the Maguindanao massacre was reportedly shot at by unidentified gunmen Thursday evening along the highway in Maguindanao.
|
|
ABS-CBN's Jorge Cariño said the police convoy was hit by gunfire apparently from snipers while on its way from Ampatuan town in Maguindanao to General Santos City.
Cariño said 3 armed men allegedly shot at the police convoy, but no one got hurt.
Philippine Army soldiers responded to the shooting incident but failed to find the gunmen.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, during Congress's joint session on martial law, said it was a convoy consisting of one 6X6 military truck, one police vehicle as escort, and several other vehicles which was attacked.
Ibrado said the convoy was carrying items recovered from the mansion of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr..
The convoy was led by Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane, Cotabato City police chief, and was in Barangay Labu-labu in Shariff Aguak when snipers fired the shots.
After hearing about the shooting, ABS-CBN's Abner Mercado also told ANC that he and his crew tried to go to the site, but they were also met by sniper fire along the highway in Ampatuan town.
Mercado said they could not see anything since it was dark, and they decided to retreat to Shariff Aguak, the provincial capital of Maguindanao.
Maguindanao was placed under martial law last Saturday two weeks after the November 23 massacre which killed 57 innocent civilians in an election-related violence.
A military spokesman in the southern Philippines said Ampatuan supporters could have been behind Thursday's shooting.
"There were no casualties in the ambush," Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce told the Agence France-Presse.
"We have dispatched 4 armoured vehicles to the area to reinforce the policemen," Ponce added.
'Why transport evidence at night?'
Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II, meanwhile, questioned why the evidence on the massacre was being transported at night.
"It's quite bothersome that these evidences were being transported at night from Maguindanao all the way to - supposedly - General Santos... Why at night? Why not during the day? Was there an escort?" Roxas said during an interview on ANC.
"These are evidence to a very gruesome massacre that happened, and if these are not handled carefully, then the evidence could disappear, could be misplaced, and all of a sudden, the murder cases that would have been filed, or otherwise would have been successfully prosecuted, would not have been solved," Roxas said.
He said the Senate, during the joint session, asked for an official explanation on the incident.
"We asked for it [the explanation on the transport of the evidence] formally, so that that explanation would be made part of the report to the joint session," he said.
Ibrado also said he will consult security forces on the reasons for moving the evidence at night.
"I have to ask that same question to our transporting the evidence," Ibrado said during an interview on ANC's The World Tonight.
He also said the incident was not a major encounter.
"The way I look at it is that while the convoy was moving, somebody took a chance and fired upon the convoy. In military parlance, we call that a hasty ambush, [unlike] a prepared ambush wherein roadblock would be set up and all that stuff," he said.
Ibrado also said that they are more concerned about reports of different armed groups consolidating in different parts of the province. With reports from Jorge Cariño, Abner Mercado, and Ricky Carandang, ABS-CBN News, and the Agence France-Presse
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Share your views
Confidential
A few hours before the massacre took place, The governor Zaldy Andal Ampatuan left Maguindanao via medium scale passenger plane with cold feet and cold cash!!!
A staggering 37 million pesos!!! for what purpose???? I don't know, but it is for sure it must be hand delivered and personally handed over!!!
Maybe payroll for the generals and payment for the arsenals! What do you think???
Armed Elements
This so called "Armed Elements" doesn't exists anymore right after day one when Military had uncovered the brutal massacre (If not for insistence of Toto Mangudadatu they wouldn't move). With discoveries of cache of arms, ammunitions and other high caliber military equipment in large numbers and all the leaders of Ampatuans in custody, without arms and financial support they'll all be hiding in different directions. The PNP and Military have already admitted the a lot of them are in Metro Manila, which I also doubt. No supporting evidence of their existence, I won't buy it.
I am Sure@jsm
I am sure about what i have in mind and is it all facts. The whole world knows How your president made record as number One. That is no.1 in graft corruption. No.1 in election fraud. No.1 in extra-judicial killings the latest is the Maguindanao Massacre. As president of the pinoys she have all the power to make pinoys proud and progress but what is our record now in the world? The top ten in graft in the world. The most dangerous place for the media people who are just reporting the truth. Commander in chief of AFP but what had she done? arming the goons of her cohorts that are now the scourge of our land. Talo pa ang H1N1 nakakatakot talaga. I am sure about your logic parang elementary lang dahil sa bulok na school system kaya babaw lang ang pang-unawa. o
baka isa ka lang at kawawang ina mo na suhulan at bayaran ni Madam Gloria. I am resting my case to our kapwa pinoy na kawawa by the way pasensya na dahil school bukol lang ang naabot ko kaya di ako maari makipag debate na gaya ni Hemmler. Salamat at peace!!Kape tayo.
walang sariling pagiisip
PARA KAYONG MGA TAONG WALANG SARILING PAGIISIP. NANINIWALA KAAGAD SA HAKA-HAKA NG ISANG TAONG DI NAGIISIP. KUMAKAGAT KAAGAD SA PAIN, HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER!
ISANG SIMPLENG TANONG LANG DOON SA NANINIWALA KAY MAR ROXAS: KUNG TALAGANG MAY BALAK ANG ADMINISTRASYON O MILITARY NA MAWALA YANG EBIDENSYA EH, BAKIT PA HINUKAY YAN, ABER? PARA MATIKTIKAN PA NG OPOSISYON, GANON? DI BA KAHUNGHANGAN LAHAT YANG KWENTONG ALAMAT NI ROXAS? AT YAN ANG GUSTO NINYONG MAGING VICE-PRESIDENT? ISANG TAONG MAHILIG SA PANTASYA? MAAWA NAMAN KAYO SA SARILI NINYO!!!
To; jsm111605
Quote
2. you want arroyo to take responsiblities for ampatuan action where the waitness and evedince are pointing ampatuan and yet you think arroy should go to jail? are you for real, just incase you forget Arroyo is the Commander in Chief of the Philippines. you like it or not we have no choice to Respect and support her action to make this proceeding smooth, then when she failed its your time to talk. If she realy done this dont you think the whole world leaders will not take action for this. please!!! what ever your takin stop it. it sames like someone inside your brain talking and feeding wrong information to you.
Unquote
First of all it is the Commander in Chiefs responsibility to make sure that people like the murderous ampatuan’s don’t have a chance to get into power, did she succeed there???? NO
Secondly, why should you respect and support a countries leader if this person is known to be corrupt, steal and only sees her and her family and friends own advantage before the needs of her people.
Thirdly, its not only the murderous ampatuan’s she supports, tell me; how many other clans just like them are in existence in the Philippines??
Everybody is talking about plans to disarm them, build a committee to find out what needs to be done.
Those committee members are all her allies, they will take HUGE bribes in finding out what every citizen in those various villages knows, as a matter of fact the law for disarmament are there, used them and put a high stake on peoples head who have illegal weapons.
I understand if a Governor needs protection, but does it have to be a 500 - 1000 head strong army??????
And lastly, I don’t think there is any need in an open forum like this here to be abusive and attack another persons opinion the way you did, just stick to the facts and let people know what YOU think but give others the right to express their opinion too.
With this said I wish everybody a peaceful weekend and remember all of you good Pinoy’s people out there, use the power of your vote wisely, you have the might to keep corrupt and stealing officials out of office, so use it and make this country of yours to be strong and happy.
Mabuhay
ilaya, im not sure what you
ilaya, im not sure what you got in your mind, i think your making an issue inside your brain, 1st your feeding the spoon on my mouth, 2. you want arroyo to take responsiblities for ampatuan action where the waitness and evedince are pointing ampatuan and yet you think arroy should go to jail? are you for real, just incase you forget Arroyo is the Commander in Chief of the Philippines. you like it or not we have no choice to Respect and support her action to make this proceeding smooth, then when she failed its your time to talk. If she realy done this dont you think the whole world leaders will not take action for this. please!!! what ever your takin stop it. it sames like someone inside your brain talking and feeding wrong information to you. i hope you wake up and smell the coffee.
MANIWALA KAYO?
Naku, maniwala kayo dito... in the first place why transport those valuable items during the night??? Kung may common sense ka nga lang bakit sa GABI pa??? At kung ako yung aambush sa convoy na ito, siguraduhin kung merong tatamaan noh!
Malaman laman mo na lang set up pala yun to expand martial law outside maguindanao.What a HINT!
At yun namang nakitang mga baril sa loob ng sasakyan na naka park malapit sa NBI, ano yun? KUNWARI para mag declare din ng martial law sa metro manila.HAHAHA!!! patawa na naman itong mga adviser ni gloria!
These armed elements are
These armed elements are using guerilla tactics. The whole of Maguindanao is under Martial Law and these people are mostly on the run. They know they can't face the military on equal grounds that's why they keep themselves hidden and strike only when necessary. The fact that there lawless elements attacking the military and no leader has yet surfaced to speak against the government does not mean there is no rebellion happening in Maguindanao. These people are challenging the chief executive of this country with guns and bullets. That is rebellion in my book. They are not rallyists who are equipped with harmless tomatoes.
Armed Elements
Matagal ng sinasabi na may mga armado daw talaga pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pang pinapakita na ebidensya na they are really existing. Sabi pa ng AFP ay sumanib daw sa MILF.... Are they nuts, baka kinatay ng mga MILF ang mga CVOs at CAFGUs na yun dahil mortal na magka-away ang mga Ampatuans at MILF. Those alleged armed elements ay hindi puwedeng mag-encroach sa teritoryo ng MILF in Maguindanao. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pang nagbibigay ng statement na lider o namumuno doon sa alleged rebelyon at mga armed elements na nagma mass daw sa ilang bayan ng Maguindanao. Ang media ay malayang naghahayag ng kung ano ang obserbasyon nila at wala rin report tungkol sa mga armadong grupo. Kung ang ASG, MILF at NPA camps ay napupuntahan ng media kahit na sa sulok ng kagubatan ay bakit sa tinagal tagal wala pa silang nakikita? Ano ang nangyari sa "Intelligence Resources" ng Military sa Maguindanao at walang maipakitang pruweba na may armed elements talaga. Are we just taken for another ride?
Wala pang isang buwan mula
Wala pang isang buwan mula nung mag declare ng Martial Law and some people are already questioning why there are still armed elements in Maguindanao?
Give the government a break people.
Napakalaki ng Maguindanao at hindi naman kayang suyurin ito agad ng military natin. Gusto ninyo mabilis na solusyon agad. Huwag naman ganyan. Lahat ng bagay ay kailangang bigyan ng kaukulang panahon bago ito magkaroon ng resulta. Ibig niyo bang sabihin dahil nag declare na agad ng Martial Law expected na under control na agad ang mga armed elements sa Maguindanao? Nagkakamali kayo. Ang problema sa Maguindanao ay hindi katulad ng bote ng softdrinks na nakapila sa assembly line na kapag nalagyan na ng laman at natakpan na eh puwede nang dalhin sa tindahan. Napaka-complex ng problema sa Maguindanao. Lumalaban ang mga armed elements na ito so please give our military a break and see how it goes. Huwag ninyong itulad sa assembly line ang problema ng bansa.