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Philippine mayor in center of massacre files candidacy papers

Published: 27/11/2009 05:00

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A local politician whose wife and some other family members were among the 57 massacred in the country’s worst violence filed his candidacy papers for the provincial governor’s post.

Maguindanao Massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. (C) is escorted by National Bureau of Investigation agents after arriving at the Villamor Airbase in Manila, capital of Philippines, Nov. 26, 2009. (Xinhua/Jnelson Suldado)

Buluan Vice Mayor Esmail Mangudadatu was accompanied by former Defense Secretary and presidential aspirant Gilbert Teodoro at the election office here.

On his way here, Magudadatu’s 50-vehicle en-route on the same route where his wife, relatives, supporters and 30 journalists were flagged down this week and massacred eight km away from the national highway.

Supporters and friends chanted Alahu Akbar, Allah is great as Mangudadatu finished filing his certificate of candidacy against influential clan Ampatuan.

“Only death can stop us from running. This symbolizes our freedom. I hope this will be the start of our liberation,” he told reporters.

Magundadatu’s arch rival in next year’s provincial election, Andal Ampatuan Jr. — a prominent member of the powerful Ampatuan clan — was named a prime suspect in Monday’s massacre and has been put in custody awaiting police charges.

Ampatuan Jr. denied any wrongdoings and blamed the Muslim rebels for initiating the massacre, an accusation belittled by both the rebel authorities and police and military investigators.

Major Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman for the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, said there is no evidence against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country’s largest rebel group on the massacre.

The military said they had taken control of the capital and municipality halls in several key towns in Maguindanao province and started to disarm hundreds of the para-military soldiers loyal to the Ampatuan family.

Ampatuan Jr.’s father — Andal Ampatuan Sr. — is the family patriarch and three-time governor of Maguindanao. He intends to hand over the post to his son in 2010 elections and Esmail’s challenge to the family’s dominance in the province is cited by local media and political analysts as a main reason prompting Monday’s massacre.

Esmail said he received death threats prior to the massacre and that is why he sent his wife and other female members of the family, escorted by a team of journalists and lawyers, to file the candidacy papers for him on Monday.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet

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