Relative of massacre star witness shot dead

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguinadanao, Philippines – A cousin of Maguindanao massacre eyewitness Vice Mayor Rasul Sangki of Ampatuan town was shot dead yesterday morning by militiamen allegedly led by a cousin of the massacre’s principal suspect, Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay town.

Police identified the victim as Dok Uling, barangay chairman of Kakal in Ampatuan town.

Investigators said Uling was killed after his house was attacked by armed men allegedly led by Kanor Ampatuan, one of the suspects in the Maguindanao massacre last Nov. 23.

“He (Uling) is a cousin of Vice Mayor Sangki and it seems like vengeance is the motive because (Sangki) is testifying against Andal Jr. in the massacre case,” the police official said.

Kanor, reportedly vice mayor of Salibo town in Maguindanao, was identified as one of the suspects who shot the massacre victims.

The leaders of the Ampatuan clan headed by former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. are now under police custody.

Among those killed were the wife of Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu of Buluan, Maguindanao, and two of his sisters, two female lawyers and 30 media men.

The Mangudadatus have blamed the Ampatuans for the incident, specifically pointing to Ampatuan Jr. as the leader of more than 100 armed men who kidnapped and killed Mangudadatu’s supporters.

The Ampatuans denied any involvement in the massacre.

Warrants of arrest had been issued against Kanor and the remaining Ampatuan clan members who are still at large.

During the weekend, civilian volunteers loyal to the Ampatuans torched the farm of Sangki where several houses were also razed.

Meanwhile, despite the continuing violence in Maguindanao, Senior Superintendent Alex Lineses, provincial police director, said the situation in the province is peaceful and under control.

This developed as the once fortress-like mansion of the Ampatuan clan in Shariff Aguak is now virtually defenseless and has become a target of robbers after the heavily armed security personnel of the clan left.

A source that refused to be identified said only 10 caretakers were left to guard and clean the mansion along the highway near the capitol in Shariff Aguak.

“The guards stay awake at night on alert for looters, and are armed only with bolos and machetes because they don’t even have firearms,” said the source.

“The tables have been turned. I remember the time when the mansion served as a citadel of wealth and power, which everyone in the region respected and held in awe,” the source said.

The wife of Zaldy visits the mansion once in a while to give food and clothes to the caretakers. Government troops usually inspect the compound at daytime but leave at night.

Kin of slain journalists file raps

The widows of the journalists who were killed in the massacre filed yesterday at the Office of the Ombudsman for Mindanao in Davao City their affidavits of complaint against an Army general and colonel who allegedly refused to provide military escorts to the victims.

Charges of alleged violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices in relation to Republic Act 6713 or establishing a code of conduct and ethical standard for public officials and employees were filed against Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton and Col. Medardo Geslani for failing to provide security escorts to the convoy that included the supporters of Mangudadatu and the media men.

Cayton was recently promoted as Army vice commander despite his alleged liability in the massacre.

Among the complainants were Reyna Momay, Maria Reynate Castillo, Zenaida Dujay, Juliet Evardo, Cipriana Gatchalian, Glena Legarta, Arlene Lupogan, Mary Jean Merisco, Catheryn Nuñez, Noemi Parcon, Myrna Reblando, Ramonita Salaysay, Editha Yamson and Erlyn Umpad.

Cayton was then 6th Infantry Division commander and Geslani was 601st Infantry Brigade commander.

Assistant Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman told The STAR that aside from the criminal cases against Cayton and Geslani, administrative charges are also possible for alleged gross negligence and dereliction of duty.

Elman said the complaint would be transmitted today to the Ombudsman’s Military Offices and Law Enforcement Offices division headed by Emilio Gonzales III.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Davao City chapter, in a statement yesterday, demanded the prosecution of the perpetrators and said that military officers like Cayton and Geslani should be held liable for their inaction when the victims earlier requested their assistance. — With Nonong Baliao, Sandy Araneta, Edith Regalado