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| Southeast Asia |
| Ampatuans face murder charges |
| 2010-07-28 |
| [Straits Times] MURDER charges will be read on Wednesday against 21 police officers and members of a militia linked to the massacre of 57 people in the southern Philippines last year, justice department officials said. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima also asked law enforcement agencies to speed up the arrest of 14 key massacre suspects, including five more members of the powerful Ampatuan clan, linked to the country's worst politically-motivated killings. 'At least 21 followers of the Ampatuan family will be arraigned tomorrow for their role in the massacre,' Ms de Lima told reporters. Andal Ampatuan Jr, a town mayor in Maguindanao province, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the killing of 57 people, including 30 journalists, blaming Muslim rebels for the deaths. Ampatuan's father, uncle and three brothers were also charged along with 191 police officers, soldiers and members of militia who were linked to the crime. Only 62 are in custody and 134 others, including 20 Ampatuan clan members, are still at large. Last week, the government wanted to move witnesses to the massacre to protect them after a confrontation in the Manila detention facility where they are being held with others accused in the case. In June, a witness in the case was shot dead. Earlier this month, Ms de Lima ordered prosecutors to charge two people for attempting to bribe two witnesses to retract their testimony against the Ampatuans. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Vote Ampatuan...or DIE! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-07-28 12:39 |