The Philippines: Powerful Family Is Accused in More Killings

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times

The Philippines: Powerful Family Is Accused in More Killings
By CARLOS H. CONDE
Published: November 17, 2010

Members of a powerful political family in the southern Philippines whose leaders have been charged in the 2009 massacre of 57 people are implicated in dozens of other killings that date back decades, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Tuesday. No one in the Ampatuan family, long a dominant political force in Maguindanao Province, was charged in the older killings, whose victims included political opponents and their relatives, public officials, people whose land the family wanted, and members of the Ampatuans’ own organization who disobeyed orders, the report said. Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of the family patriarch, is on trial for the Nov. 23, 2009, killings in Maguindanao, whose 57 victims included about 30 journalists and media support staff members who were with a group of people on their way to file candidacy papers for a political rival of Mr. Ampatuan.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/world/asia/17briefs-PHILIPPINES.html?_r=1&ref=world

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http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/media/images/46955000/jpg/_46955178_jex_553070_de27-1.jpg

Andal Ampatuan Jr wore a bulletproof vest as he appeared in court
The chief suspect in the massacre of 57 people in the southern Philippines - the country's worst political murder - has appeared in court in Manila.

Andal Ampatuan Jr wore a bulletproof vest and was accompanied by armed guards to attend the hearing.

He denies multiple charges of murder over last month's attack, which killed members of a rival political family and journalists travelling with them.

~snip~
The Ampatuan clan have long controlled Maguindanao province and have been loyal supporters of President Gloria Arroyo.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8420570.stm

http://4.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_8kMsOgxcpyo/SyApwzjmb8I/AAAAAAAABVA/psPhZvgOTrk/s320/andalcrop-420x0.jpg http://www.ndb-online.com.nyud.net:8090/files/jan0610h1.jpg

[LoKnLoD]

1. He doesn't have Arroyo protection anymore

He can't get her anymore stolen votes.