Village of Ampatuan witness' farm razed

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao, Philippines – Armed men burned down a barangay near a farm owned by Vice Mayor Rasul Sangki, the principal witness against Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., primary suspect in the Maguindanao massacre.

Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu Jr., Joint Task Force 12-Alpha commander, told The STAR that known sympathizers of the Ampatuans set fire to the houses as they raided Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town.

“Houses in the vicinity (of the farmland) were burned by the armed CVOs (civilian volunteer organizations) loyal to the Ampatuans, as reported by the chief of police,” he said.

“The location is just three kilometers away from the massacre area in Barangay Salman.”

Residents fled their homes and sought refuge in a nearby evacuation center, Khu said.

Meanwhile, police armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Milanio Guerrero of Cotabato City Regional Trial Court raided the mansion of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

However, they failed to recover any firearms.

Authorities said despite the setback they will continue to search other Ampatuan properties for firearms.

In a series of raids in Maguindanao following the cold-blooded killing of 57 people last Nov. 23, troops seized high-powered firearms, various ammunition, fake police cars and armored vehicles allegedly owned by the Ampatuans. —Rose Tamayo-Tesoro