Alleged follower of Ampatuan Jr. arrested in brief gunbattle

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao , Philippines  – A suspected follower of detained Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. has been arrested after a brief gunbattle with pursuing soldiers in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on Christmas day, the military said.

Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division, declined to identify the suspect, who was wounded in the encounter, but confirmed he has been turned over to the Maguindanao provincial police office for medication.

“He and his companions opened fire on soldiers searching for hidden firearms of the Ampatuans in Barangay Kuloy (in Shariff Aguak), provoking a running firefight,” Ponce said.

Ponce said soldiers sent to clear the surroundings of the site where the encounter took place found the wounded gunman lying on the ground, pleading to be evacuated to a hospital.

Maguindanao’s acting police director, Superintendent Alex Lenesis, said the wounded member of the Ampatuan private militia is now being questioned on the whereabouts of his companions.

Lenesis said investigators are still trying to determine if the suspect is one of the more than a hundred followers of Ampatuan Jr. that perpetrated the Nov. 23 mass slaughter of 57 people in Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town.

Ponce said troops are still searching for more than 2,000 firearms of the Ampatuans believed to be hidden in different spots in Shariff Aguak.

Government forces have so far recovered 868 assorted firearms owned by the Ampatuans during a series of operations that started from last week of November until shortly before Christmas day.