21 Ampatuans in slay continue to elude arrest

MANILA, Philippines - A day before the first anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre, 21 more accused related to the Ampatuan clan have managed to elude arrest.

Of the 21 Ampatuans charged with multiple murder, court records show that two were former mayors, Banjarin Ampatuan and Saudi Ampatuan Jr.; a former vice mayor, Kanor Ampatuan; and two rookie policemen, PO1 Dukoy Badal and PO1 Alfie Pagabangan.

Former vice mayor Zukarno Badal surrendered last week to authorities and indicated his intention to become a state witness.

Badal tagged the Ampatuans, particularly former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., as having given the order to his men to open fire at the victims.

Ampatuan Jr. allegedly led more than a hundred of his men in stopping a convoy carrying supporters of a political rival and journalists in Maguindanao on Nov. 23 last year.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, chief of Task Force Maguindanao, said eight other relatives of the clan implicated in the brutal slaying were Harris, Ipi, Kagi Amar, Mama, Moning, Norodin Datumanong, Tony Kenis, and Ulo, all surnamed Ampatuan.

Other relatives of the Ampatuans being hunted by the police include Tumi Timba Abas, Nasser Adam, Hadji Mogira Angulat, Hamid Delayudin, Jagi Faizal, Parido Zangkala Gogo, Tammy Masukat, and Jun Pendatun.

Estipona said government operatives have accounted for 83 of the 195 accused in the massacre.

Some of the accused have joined bandits in the mountains to avoid hot pursuit being conducted by government forces, a police official said yesterday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said intelligence operatives confirmed that some of the 112 still at large have linked up with criminal groups like the Abu Sayyaf, extortionist Al Khobar, Pentagon and lawless groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Bacalzo cited information that these criminal groups are hiding in the mountainous areas of Central Mindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.

Aside from the 21 persons related to the Ampatuans, police are also hunting 10 former policemen, four military personnel, and 78 former members of the civilian volunteer organization (CVO), which acted as the family’s private armies.

Palace wants live coverage

Despite a clear and categorical ruling, Malacañang still remains hopeful that the Supreme Court (SC) would reverse its decision against allowing live television coverage of the ongoing trial of the Maguindanao massacre.

“We are hoping that we are not the only ones who are supportive of this and we will see that a lot of people wanted to see the live coverage because there is high public interest in this case,” Undersecretary Abigail Valte told government-run radio station dzRB.

She said she is hopeful that the SC will listen to the calls of the public for a live coverage of the trial.

Valte said Malacañang will be issuing a statement on the first anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre tomorrow.

She said the government, particularly the executive department, has been doing all it can in ensuring that justice is served to all the victims of the massacre, proof of which is the approval of the court, as per prosecutors’ motion, to allow a twice-a-week trial.

Media won’t forget

Journalists in Central Luzon are all set for the observance of the first anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre tomorrow, with activities ranging from marathon radio broadcast to prayer rallies and candle lighting.

Bulacan journalists will conduct a marathon radio broadcast from 7 a.m. to 12 noon tomorrow over Radyo Bulacan 89.5 FM based in Guiguinto town.

In Pampanga, members of different media groups, non-governmental organizations, and students from different universities will stage a rally from the San Fernando City public market to Camp Olivas, the regional police headquarters in Central Luzon.

Journalists from the provinces of Tarlac, Bataan and Zambales are expected to join the Pampanga rally.

In Cabanatuan City, members of the Nueva Ecija Press Club Inc. will hold an early morning prayer and candle lighting ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park in remembrance of the massacre victims.

“This is a reminder that we will not be cowed, that we will remain steadfast in the fight against the culture of impunity,” Rommel Ramos, vice chairman of the NUJP-Bulacan chapter said, quoting the group’s statement. - With Delon Porcalla, Dino Balabo