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Nov 26, 2009
Massacre suspect held
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Police investigators look for evidence on a mangled vehicle unearthed at the crime scene where human remains were dug up from a shallow grave as investigators try to find more bodies, victims of a massacre after gunmen shot at least 22 people in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province on November 25, 2009. -- PHOTO: AFP
MANILA - PHILIPPINE authorities on Thursday took into custody a politician named as the top suspect in an election massacre that left at least 57 people dead, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno told reporters. Andal Ampatuan Jr was taken by helicopter from his hometown in Maguindanao province on Thursday morning to a nearby airport, from where he would be flown to Manila for questioning, Mr Puno said. Mr Puno said witnesses to Monday's massacre would also be brought with Ampatuan Jr to Manila, where authorities would conduct their investigations. However it remained unclear whether Ampatuan was under formal arrest. Philippine government officials had been negotiating since Tuesday with Ampatuan's powerful family for Ampatuan Jr to submit to questioning. The massacre occurred after about 100 Ampatuan gunmen allegedly abducted a convoy of aides and relatives of a rival politician, Esmael Mangudadatu, plus a group of journalists. They were shot at close range, some with their hands tied behind their backs, and dumped or buried in shallow graves on a remote farming road close to a town bearing the Ampatuan name. -- AFP
Home > Breaking News > SE Asia > Story
Nov 26, 2009
Massacre suspect held
<!-- by line --> <!-- end by line -->
Police investigators look for evidence on a mangled vehicle unearthed at the crime scene where human remains were dug up from a shallow grave as investigators try to find more bodies, victims of a massacre after gunmen shot at least 22 people in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province on November 25, 2009. -- PHOTO: AFP
MANILA - PHILIPPINE authorities on Thursday took into custody a politician named as the top suspect in an election massacre that left at least 57 people dead, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno told reporters. Andal Ampatuan Jr was taken by helicopter from his hometown in Maguindanao province on Thursday morning to a nearby airport, from where he would be flown to Manila for questioning, Mr Puno said. Mr Puno said witnesses to Monday's massacre would also be brought with Ampatuan Jr to Manila, where authorities would conduct their investigations. However it remained unclear whether Ampatuan was under formal arrest. Philippine government officials had been negotiating since Tuesday with Ampatuan's powerful family for Ampatuan Jr to submit to questioning. The massacre occurred after about 100 Ampatuan gunmen allegedly abducted a convoy of aides and relatives of a rival politician, Esmael Mangudadatu, plus a group of journalists. They were shot at close range, some with their hands tied behind their backs, and dumped or buried in shallow graves on a remote farming road close to a town bearing the Ampatuan name. -- AFP
