International group claims government nurtured Ampatuans in exchange for votes

MANILA, Philippines - An international group has accused the Philippine government of nurturing the Ampatuan family “in exchange for votes” that led to the infamous massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao last year.

In a commentary posted on its website, the International Crisis Group said the successive governments in the Philippines have politically patronized the Ampatuans and “allowed them to amass absolute power, including the possession of a private arsenal that included mortars, rocket launchers and state-of-the-art assault rifles.”

“To call it (massacre) a feud is to diminish the Arroyo administration’s role in allowing a local despot to indulge his greed and ambition, including through building up a private army in the name of fighting insurgents,” said Sidney Jones, senior adviser to Crisis Group’s Asia program.

“The (Ampatuan) family either controlled or had terrified into submission the police, the courts, and the local election commission,” the group said.

The group noted the international condemnation on the massacre of the 57 people blamed on the Ampatuan family.

The carnage took place on Nov. 23 last year and was blamed on the Ampatuans in their effort to prevent a political rival from filing his certificate of candidacy for the gubernatorial race in the province.

The international outcry forced President Arroyo to declare martial law in Maguindanao to allow government forces to move in and neutralize the Ampatuans and their followers to control the situation.