Prime suspect in Philippine massacre surrenders

Not a word about Islam, Muslims or Jihad. Nobody does News better than AP….

By AARON FAVILA and JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press

AMPATUAN, Philippines – A scion of a powerful pro-government clan suspected in the massacre of 57 people in an election caravan in the southern Philippines turned himself in Thursday amid mounting pressure on the president to crack down on lawlessness and warlords.

Gubernatorial candidate and Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu grieves during the burial of his wife and other family members in Buluan town, Maguindanao province, southern Philippines on Thursday Nov. 26, 2009. Authorities say a scion of a powerful clan suspected in the massacre of 57 people in an election caravan in Maguindanao province has turned himself in.

This article here from mb.com is slightly more accurate, but also tells us nothing about what motivates these “powerful clans” in Maguindanao:

• Ampatuan Jr. is the son of Maguindnao’s governor, a Muslim clan chief who who commands his own private army and until this week was a close ally of Arroyo’s ruling coalition>>>

The story behind the accused Ampatuan clan

Obama reaches out to Philippine jihadists

But hey, not to worry: America’s Muslim POTUS is onto it:

As Weasel Zippers says: “What a disgrace. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been responsible for the ethnic cleansing of Christians in the areas it controls, beheadings, numerous terrorist attacks etc. not that this would bother Obama….”

“Obama sends letter to Philippine Muslim rebel leader,” from Deutsche Presse Agentur, November 14 (thanks to Weasel Zippers):

The dead from Monday’s massacre included at least 18 journalists and the wife, family and dozens of supporters of a gubernatorial candidatewho wanted to challenge the rival Ampatuan clan, which has ruledMaguindanao province unopposed for years.

Andal Ampatuan Jr., a town mayor who allegedly stopped the convoy with dozens of police and pro-government militiamen, surrendered to presidential adviser Jesus Dureza in the provincial capital, military commander Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer said.

“The family voluntarily surrendered him and they agreed that he will be investigated,” Ferrer said.

Asked by reporters if he was involved in the killings, Ampatuan, who tried to hide his face with a scarf, replied: “There is no truth to that. The reason I came out is to prove that I am not hiding and that I am not guilty.”

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said he had warned the family they risked a military attack unless they turned over Ampatuan by midday Thursday.

As a helicopter carrying Ampatuan took off, shots rang out but the aircraft was not hit, Ferrer said. It wasn’t clear who fired the shots.

The clan helped President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies win the 2004 presidential and 2007 senatorial elections by delivering crucial votes.  More>>

Tagged as: Philippine massacre, suspect surrenders