The 41-year-old is heir to the Ampatuan kingdom: impoverished, rural, and lawless Maguindanao Province, where they have ruled for years with a reputation for ruthlessness that led few to dare to challenge them. Hundreds of pro-government militiamen in their employ have been disarmed since the massacre.
Ismael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan township, did the unthinkable when he decided to file his candidacy for governorship in May 2010 elections. Having received death threats, he sent his wife, sisters, and other female relatives to submit his papers, hoping that women would be spared the kind of violence that regularly reigns in the region. Asked by reporters whether he was involved in the killings, Ampatuan, who tried to hide his face with a scarf as he was ferried from his home province, replied: “There is no truth to that. The reason I came out is to prove that I am not hiding and that I am not guilty.’’
Ampatuan gave himself up to presidential adviser Jesus Dureza in the provincial capital of Shariff Aguak, following days of negotiations and hours after troops and police sent in tanks, trucks, and armored carriers around administrative buildings. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno had threatened to attack the family compound unless they turned over Ampatuan by midday yesterday. At an airport building where he was initially questioned, Ampatuan was confronted by an enraged Mangudadatu. Relatives and officials had to step in to restrain them.
“When I saw him, I wanted to chew him up, spit him out and stomp on him,’’ Mangudadatu told reporters later.
As a helicopter carrying Ampatuan took off from Shariff Agusan, shots rang out but the aircraft was not hit, Ferrer said. It wasn’t clear who fired them.
Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno said he has instructed his staff to work overnight to prepare charges against Ampatuan.
Zuno said he expects Ampatuan, who was brought to Manila, to be charged with multiple counts of murder today in southern Cotabato city, which is closest to the massacre site. The trial will take place in the capital for security reasons.
