Ampatuans recognize governor-elect Mangudadatu

TALAYAN, Maguindanao , Philippines  – Two equally powerful siblings of detained former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr. broke bread and smoke the proverbial peace pipe with the newly elected vice governor of the province as a prelude to their recognition of governor-elect Esmael Mangudadatu.

Siblings Pandag and Sarip Ampatuan, elected councilor of Shariff Aguak and provincial board member, respectively, hug one after another vice governor-elect Dustin Mastura in the presence of their elders and representatives of the Midtimbang clan, a staunch ally of the Ampatuans during the 2004 and 2007 elections.

Mastura defeated Ampatuan Sr. with an overwhelming vote margin during the May 10 vice gubernatorial race in the province.

Pandag and Sarip told Mastura, who was accompanied here by his uncle, Datu Tucao, the provincial chairman of the Liberal Party, that members of the Ampatuan clan that have not been implicated in the Nov. 23 massacre in Ampatuan municipality will recognize the new provincial leaders and support their peace programs meant to hasten normalcy in the province that their clan once ruled with “zero tolerance” for political opposition.

The Midtimbangs, whose scion, Datu Antao, contested the candidacy for governor of Mangudadatu, also reconciled with the Masturas.

Mangudadatu and the Midtimbangs, along with the two siblings of the detained former Maguindanao governor, are to hold their separate reconciliation dialogue anytime before June 30.