GOVERNMENT investigators are poised to file multiple murder charges against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. in connection with the killing of 57 people, including 29 journalists, in Monday’s carnage in Maguindanao.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Friday that state prosecutors have turned up evidence to initially charge Ampatuan with the death of seven victims of the pre-election violence.
She also said eight other members of the powerful Ampatuan clan are now on the Bureau of Immigration’s watch list after statements gathered from witnesses point to their complicity in the grisly murders.
The eight: Ampatuan’s father and the family patriach, Maguindanao Gov., Datu Andal Ampauan Sr., and his brother, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, as well as Maguindanao Acting Vice-Gov. Akmad Ampatuan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Saudi Ampatuan Jr., Nords Ampatuan, Sajid Islam Ampatuan, Bahnarian Ampatuan and Akmad Tato Ampatuan Sr.
This developed as two more journalists— Rogelio Bataluna and Benjie Adolfo, both of Goldstar Newsweekly—were confirmed dead, bringing the number of slain journalists to 29.
Andal Jr. on Thursday surrendered to authorities and was flown to Manila and detained at the National Bureau of Investigation Jail. On Friday morning, NBI doctors conducted morning a medical examination on the Datu Unsay mayor at his cell. VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio took these photos: