AMPATUAN, PHILIPPINES // A member of a powerful pro-government clan suspected in the massacre of 57 people in the Philippines turned himself in this morning amid mounting pressure on the president to crack down on lawlessness and warlords.
The dead from Monday's massacre included at least 18 journalists and the wife, family and dozens of supporters of a gubernatorial candidate who wanted to challenge the rival Ampatuan clan, which has ruled Maguindanao 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 advisor 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," Mr Ferrer said. Asked by reporters if he was involved in the killings, Mr Ampatuan, who tried to hide his face with a scarf, said: "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."
The interior secretary Ronaldo Puno said he had warned the family they risked a military attack unless they turned over Mr Ampatuan by midday today. As a helicopter carrying him took off, shots rang out but the aircraft was not hit, Mr 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. Mrs Arroyo's ruling party, in an emergency meeting late yesterday, expelled Mr Ampatuan, his father and a brother.
Mr Ampatuan's surrender followed days of discussions between his family and Mr Dureza, apparently in a bid to prevent hostilities between the clan's followers and government forces. Mr Ferrer said the area around the provincial capital was tense after troops disarmed about 350 pro-government militiamen loyal to the Ampatuans. Such militias are meant to act as an auxiliary force to the military and police in fighting rebels and criminals but often serve as politicians' private armies.
The military deployed tanks and truckloads of troops throughout the province under a state of emergency to hunt down the attackers and prevent retaliatory violence from the victims' clan.
The gubernatorial candidate, Ismael Mangudadatu, had received death threats and sent his wife and relatives to submit his candidacy on Monday in the convoy that was ambushed. Mr Mangudadatu said four people whom he refused to identify told him Ampatuan was seen with the gunmen. National police director Jesus Verzosa said six senior officers, including the provincial police chief and his deputy, 20 members of Ampatuan Township's police station and 347 militiamen were in custody for the investigation, but that not all were considered suspects.
President Arroyo vowed justice for the victims. Few, however, think she will be able to restore the rule of law in the impoverished region that has been outside the central government's reach for generations, and where warlords backed by private armies go by their own rules. Mr Maguindanao's acting governor is Sajid Ampatuan, another son of former Gov Andal Ampatuan Sr, the clan's patriarch.
Human Rights Watch expressed concern that the administration's relationship with the family would hinder an impartial investigation.
*AP
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
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Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
The specs: 2019 GMC Yukon Denali
Price, base: Dh306,500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 621Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.9L / 100km
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
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The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
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The biog
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Favourite author: Malcom Gladwell
Favourite travel destination: "Antigua in the Caribbean because I have emotional attachment to it. It is where I got married."
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
