Philippines - Maguindanao massacre

Clan may have murdered 250

Article published on the 2009-12-09 Latest update 2009-12-09 15:00 TU

Protesters in Manila display coffins made of cardboard at a protest against the brutal killing of 57 people in Maguindanao in November.
Photo: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

Philippine police have charged 24 of a total of 161 people they suspect of planning last month's Maguindanao massacre with rebellion. Among those accused are senior members of the Ampatuan political clan, which officials say may be responsible for over 250 murders since 2001.

The Justice Department on Wednesday filed charges of rebellion against the family's patriarch, Andal Ampatuan Senior, who is Governor of Maguindanao province, where the 57 killings took place.

Four of his relatives were also charged, along with 19 others. One of Ampatuan's sons, Andal Ampatuan Junior, is already facing 25 counts of murder for his involvement in the massacre.

The charges against the Ampatuans and their supporters are set to multiply after the Commission on Human Rights in the Philippines accused the clan of carrying out more than 250 murders during its eight years of power in Maguindanao.

Investigators will begin looking for victims' remains - believed to be buried in mass graves - in the next two weeks, Commission chair Leila de Lima told reporters on Wednesday.

"Basically the Ampatuan family has lorded over Maguindanao province for the past decade," explains RFI's correspondent in the Philippines, Girlie Linao.

People have been too afraid to discuss allegations against the Ampatuans for fear of facing repercussions from their armed supporters, Linao says.

The clan is also suspected to have benefited from its alliance with President Gloria Arroyo's government, which the Human Rights Commission accuses of turning a blind eye to its crimes.

The issue is "damaging" for Arroyo, Linao told RFI.

"There's very little public confidence in the government of the Philippines right now," she says. "Everyone's seeing action right now, but the question is what will happen next, and there is uncertainty on how the government will proceed with charges."

Police say that they suspect at least 161 people of direct involvement in the 23 November massacre, in which supporters of one of the Ampatuans' political rivals were killed as they travelled to file nomination papers for next year's elections.