Philippine troops find weapons cache

December 07, 2009|Associated Press

SHARIFF AGUAK, Philippines - Philippine troops arrested 62 people and discovered another major weapons cache yesterday after martial law was imposed in a southern province following the country’s worst political massacre.

Thousands of troops, backed by tanks and warplanes, have taken control of Maguindanao Province in a government crackdown on the powerful Ampatuan clan, accused in the Nov. 23 killing of 57 people traveling in a convoy of a political rival. The clan has denied involvement.

Late Friday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo imposed martial law in Maguindanao - the first use of martial law in the Philippines since late dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposed it nationwide more than 30 years ago.

The government says it feared the Ampatuans, who have ruled unopposed with an iron fist over predominantly Muslim Maguindanao for years, were fomenting rebellion in response to the crackdown on them since the massacre. Those arrested so far include the clan’s patriarch, at least six other family members, and clan followers, national Police Chief Jesus Verzosa said.

High-powered firearms and crates of ammunition were dug up yesterday at a farm believed owned by the Ampatuans near the provincial capital of Shariff Aguak. Army troops and police were pursuing about 4,000 armed followers of the Ampatuans, some reportedly massing in eight Maguindanao towns.