Mindanao News Headline: MILF denying sanctuary to Ampatuans, followers

source: Mindanao Times

Written by: Mindanews , Mindanew

DARAPANAN, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee has just passed a resolution denying sanctuary to all members of the Ampatuan family and their followers within the MILF areas.
Members of the Ampatuan family and their followers who were involved in the November 23 massacre where 58 persons were killed, 32 of them from the media, are not allowed in MILF areas, MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said.
Six members of the Ampatuan clan  the former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., former Datu Unsay mayor Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., suspended ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, former Shariff Aguak mayor Datu Anwar Ampatuan, former Vice Governor Sajid Ampatuan, and former Mamasapano mayor and former OIC Vice Governor Akmad Tato Ampatuan  are presently detained in Metro Manila, for 57 counts of murder. The remains of one victim, Reynaldo Momay, had not been found but for his dentures, hence the count of 57.

A total of 197 persons have been implicated in the massacre, 28 of them surnamed Ampatuan although only about a dozen of these Ampatuans are prominent. Still, of the prominent Ampatuans, only the six listed above, are presently detained. The rest are at large, including those who won top posts in the May elections.
Sixty-two policemen and four Army sergeants were also implicated in the carnage.
Ebrahim told MindaNews Monday morning that the Ampatuan family members and their followers will not be accepted in the houses of the MILF and firearms or money offered as bribe to seek refuge in our areas are not allowed.
Violators will be dealt with accordingly, he said.
MILF information chief Mohagher Iqbal told MindaNews there was a policy on denying sanctuary to the Ampatuans and their followers shortly after the massacre but not in resolution form.