Philippines Massacre Update: 20 Arrested

by Amy Judd | November 25, 2009 at 08:27 pm

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In the case of the Philippines massacre on the island of Mindanao that took place on Monday, security forces in the Philippines have announced that they have arrested 20 people in connection to the deaths.

This comes on the heels of another 11 bodies found buried in shallow graves, taking the death toll up to 57. The first funerals for some victimes are expected to take place on Thursday, while other bodies are still being identified.

Andal Ampatuan Jr, the local mayor, is the lead suspect in the massacre, and he is expected to be taken in to custody on Thursday.

"We are expecting Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr to be turned over peacefully to the authorities anytime today," Lieutenant-Colonel Romeo Brawner, a military spokesman, told reporters.

Andal Ampatuan Jr has said that he will give himself in to show that he is willing to cooperate with police. Ampatuan Jr. is the son of the provincial governor, who is a close friend of Gloria Arroyo, the Philippine president.

On Monday, about 100 suspected Ampatuan gunmen supposedly jumped on a convoy of aides and relatives of Esmael Mangudadatu, a rival politician, who was traveling with some journalists as well. They were going to file election paper nominating Mangudadatu as a candidate in the next provincial governor.

Many of the victims were shot at close range, with their hands tied behind their backs and then buried in shallow graves. Mangudadatu was not in the convoy himself.

He had this to say about the incident:

"It was really planned because they had already dug a huge hole [for the bodies]," he said, adding that there were reports from the area that the militia had been blocking the road for a few days.

There were 20 journalists among the dead. Now the pressure is on the Arroyo government to take action against those that did the killings. A state of emergency has been declared in Maguindanao and a neighbouring province.

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A. Tran

at 23:51 on November 25th, 2009

It was a dark day for that many journalists killed in a senseless feud between the two families: Ampatuan and Mangudadatu.

Babel-Fish

at 04:19 on November 26th, 2009

Excuse me but at present I am listening to the news and there has been no reports of actual arrests, let get this story right. Not one TV station here in the Philippines has reported 20 arrests just an investigation.

Although the police have already tagged Ampatuan Jr. in the gruesome murder of at least 60 people, including 34 journalists, two female lawyers and the wife and sisters of Buluan Vice Mayor Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu, no arrest has so far been made.

The president however is asking why there has been no arrest, this story is inventive.

Lieutenant-Colonel Romeo Brawner is a military spokesman and not a member of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Why was the original opening story a day or so ago not flagged for further reports?

Babel-Fish

at 04:20 on November 26th, 2009

Let please ask for member participation in Asia or we will get incorrect reports such as this

Babel-Fish

at 03:58 on November 26th, 2009

Andal Ampatuan Jr has just been arrested (ABS CBN television live report) I am an eye witness and he is the only one arrested so far.

jhone tabinas A (not verified)

at 13:54 on December 27th, 2009

Ang mga ampatuan walang alam sa pagka governo walang pinag aralan hindi nila alam ang batas kaya ganyan ang maga ogalinila dapat ang gawin sakanila patain at bitay ang kadapatdapat gawin sakanila. maga nakakataas basahin natin ng mayos ang batas ng ating bansa nakalagay sabatas maykasalanan may parosa////////comment from batang maguindanao

Amy Judd

at 09:40 on November 26th, 2009

Ok, ok, Al Jazeera's Asia-Pacific bureau has not changed their story and the BBC news is reporting the same along with the Times Online as well as the CBC with the AFP and the AP reporting several arrests. I won't update this story any more though, feel free to take over.

danesller0127

at 10:28 on November 29th, 2009

Maguindanao massacre: The darkest and worst-ever for journalists

danesller0127

at 10:47 on November 29th, 2009

On Maguindanao massacre: I condemned the brutal killings, purely its a massacre and it is being planned by the evil-minded people, a hate crime perpetrated against an individual or a group, should be a henous crime punishable by death. Let justice be served for all the innocent victims.

The prime suspect behind the massacre, who was taken into custody on Thursday, is a member of one of Mindanao's leading Muslim political clans: the Ampatuans. They are close allies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's administration in Manila and rule Maguindanao, a hardscrabble province in an autonomous area for Muslims. Andal Ampatuan Jr., a Maguindanao mayor in his 40s, was expected to be charged with murder, according to local reports, quoting justice authorities. Ampatuan denies involvement: "The reason I came out is to prove that I am not hiding and that I am not guilty," he told local reporters.

danesller0127

at 00:34 on November 30th, 2009

Latest News:

'Police told me they have recovered the recording device,”

-- Esmael Mangudadatu

MANILA, Philippines—One of the 57 victims of the massacre in Maguindanao made a secret audio recording of the horrifying slaughter blamed on Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay town, who is detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila.

denny Gonzaga (not verified)

at 05:09 on December 1st, 2009

I dont think so if those perpetrators will be arrested and bring it to justice. if this crime committed in the U.S soil im pretty sure the suspects meted to death.