MANILA, Philippines - Journalists knelt, wept and pleaded for mercy, but Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. gunned them down and even laughed, according to two witnesses now held by the government.
The witnesses separately detailed how the Nov. 23 massacre, which left 57 people dead, was allegedly carried out by Ampatuan Jr.
The two witnesses also directly implicated former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. in the massacre.
A supposed member of the private army of the Ampatuans submitted an affidavit to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detailing how Ampatuan Jr. carried out the murders on the orders of his father.
In his affidavit, Kenny Dalandag, a member of Ampatuan’s private armed group, said Ampatuan shot Jimmy Cabillo, a reporter of the Midland Review, one of the 30 journalists accompanying the ill-fated convoy of the Mangudadatus on Nov. 23.
Dalandag’s affidavit was detailed by GMA-7, also accusing Ampatuan Sr. of directly ordering his son to carry out the massacre the day before it took place.
Dalandag narrated how the elder Ampatuan gave the order to his son during a family gathering that was attended by Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, acting governor Sajid Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak mayor Anwar Ampatuan, and other relatives, namely Saudi Ampatuan Jr., Ban and Ulo Ampatuan.
“Kung dumaan ang mga Mangudadatu, ubusin sila lahat, pati mga bata, walang itirang buhay kahit isa (If the Mangudadatus pass through, wipe them out, including the children, don’t leave anyone alive),” Dalandag quoted the Ampatuan patriarch as saying to his son, locally known in the province as Datu Unsay.
Dalagdag’s testimony was quoted by GMA-7 in its website detailing how the massacre was planned and carried out.
Another witness, a local official of the province, also provided ABS-CBN details on how the elder Ampatuan directed the massacre.
The local official also submitted an affidavit to the NBI also implicating Ampatuan Sr. in the killings.
He narrated how the former governor gave the order to his son, overhearing their conversation over mobile phone.
The witness also gave a first hand account on how Ampatuan Jr. carried out the orders of his father to the letter to get rid of the Mangudadatus, their political rival.
The witness added Ampatuan Jr. even laughed after shooting at Cabillo, who was on his knees begging for his life.
Although the witness was not identified by ABS-CBN in their report, the same official was mentioned by GMA-7 as Ampatuan vice mayor Rasul Sangki.
“Then (he) started shooting the victims as soon as they were brought in front of him, some were already on their knees, crying and shouting for mercy,” Sangki said.
“In fact, one media known to Datu Unsay who fondly called him 'Pal-ak' pleaded for his life but still (Ampatuan Jr.) shot him to death,” Sangki added, referring to Cabillo.
But the pleas were left unheard. Ampatuan Jr. even kept on shooting at the bodies while laughing at the top of his voice, according to Sangki.