Clan figure surrenders but denies involvement in Philippines massacre

THE SON of a powerful pro-government clan boss suspected of involvement in the massacre of 57 political activists and journalists in the southern Philippines turned himself in yesterday as pressure mounted on President Gloria Arroyo to crack down on the country’s warlords.

The dead included at least 18 journalists and the wife, family and dozens of supporters of a candidate for provincial governor, Ismael Mangudadatu, who wanted to challenge the rival Ampatuan clan, which has ruled Maguindanao province unopposed for years.

Andal Ampatuan jnr, a town mayor who allegedly stopped the Mangudadatu convoy with the help of dozens of police and pro-government militiamen, surrendered to presidential adviser Jesus Dureza in the provincial capital, military commander Raymundo Ferrer said. “The family voluntarily surrendered him and they agreed that he will be investigated,” Gen Ferrer said.

Shots were fired as a helicopter carrying Mr Ampatuan took off from the Maguindanao provincial capital, but the aircraft was not hit. He was later formally charged with multiple murder at the Philippine Department of Justice.

Mr Ampatuan denied he was involved in the massacre.

“The reason I came out is to prove that I am not hiding and that I am not guilty,” he told reporters.

Interior secretary Ronaldo Puno said he had warned Mr Ampatuan’s family they risked a military attack unless they turned him over by midday yesterday.

Mr Mangudadatu said he had received death threats and had sent his wife and relatives to submit his candidacy on Monday in the convoy that was ambushed.

He had not believed the women would be in danger because he said Muslims did not kill women.

Mrs Arroyo has come under intense pressure to bring the killers to justice, with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and media and human rights watchdogs voicing concern over the scale of the killings.

Both the Ampatuan and Mangudadatu clans helped President Arroyo and her allies win the 2004 presidential and 2007 senatorial elections by delivering crucial votes.

The follow-up to the massacre has highlighted the volatile political scene in Maguindanao.

The province’s acting governor is Sajid Ampatuan, another son of former governor Andal Ampatuan snr, the clan’s patriarch.

Maguindanao is a long way from Manila, and while President Arroyo has vowed to crack down on violence there, it is difficult for her to enforce her authority in a region with such a high level of lawlessness.

The area around the provincial capital was tense after troops disarmed nearly 400 pro-government militiamen loyal to the Ampatuans.

These groups are meant to act as an auxiliary force to the military and police in fighting rebels and criminals, but often serve instead as private armies for local warlords.