Backhoe operator links Ampatuans to Maguindanao Massacre
The heinous crime that shook the country was narrated again, this time by the backhoe operator who described the details of how the machine’s large steel hand dragged bodies drenched in blood into freshly dug pits and crushed vehicles.
These appalling acts were allegedly ordered by the Ampatuan family, who were the suspected masterminds in the Novvember 2009 Maguindanao Massacre. According to an exclusive interview of Bong Andal, who arrived in his backhoe to find the crime scene scattered with dead bodies, Andal Ampatuan Jr.—already a principal suspect—was also at the scene.
These appalling acts were allegedly ordered by the Ampatuan family, who were the suspected masterminds in the Novvember 2009 Maguindanao Massacre. According to an exclusive interview of Bong Andal, who arrived in his backhoe to find the crime scene scattered with dead bodies, Andal Ampatuan Jr.—already a principal suspect—was also at the scene.
Bong Andal narrated how he followed the orders of the family to bury the victims—58 in totality, including 32 journalists all gunned down in cold blood. It was considered as the worst case of election-related violence in the country.
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| Photo by Dennis Jay Santos/Inquirer Mindanao |
"Ako po si Bong Andal, katiwala po ng mga Ampatuan (sa) heavy equipment. Ako po 'yung inutusan nilang maglibing sa nangyaring masaker na 'yun," Andal confessed.
The victims were supposed to register the candidacy of Esmael Mangudadatu, the incumbent Maguindanao governor, who was the opponent of an Ampatuan family member for the position in the 2010 elections.
Andal has written in his affidavit that he would close his eyes every time his machine would crush vehicles with bodies inside them.
He said that, using the backhoe, he first dragged the cars nearest to the dug holes and then crushed them using the steel hand.
He also admitted to have hauled the pile of dead bodies into the holes and then covered them. This was allegedly ordered by Former Datu Unsay mayor Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.
Another Ampatuan scion, Zaly Ampatuan who was a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, also called him to make sure that the hole which served as the burial site of the victims were deep.
He fled the scene upon hearing an approaching helicopter. Army soldiers arrived moments later to see the killing field without any perpetrator in sight.
He confessed that the Ampatuans threatened to kill his family if he got caught.
Currently, Andal plead to the government to place him under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) but the Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to make its move.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that the Andal’s testimony is still being studied.
However, Andal is still provisionally covered by the WPP as of November 2012. | ASCS - FNPH
The victims were supposed to register the candidacy of Esmael Mangudadatu, the incumbent Maguindanao governor, who was the opponent of an Ampatuan family member for the position in the 2010 elections.
Andal has written in his affidavit that he would close his eyes every time his machine would crush vehicles with bodies inside them.
He said that, using the backhoe, he first dragged the cars nearest to the dug holes and then crushed them using the steel hand.
He also admitted to have hauled the pile of dead bodies into the holes and then covered them. This was allegedly ordered by Former Datu Unsay mayor Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.
Another Ampatuan scion, Zaly Ampatuan who was a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, also called him to make sure that the hole which served as the burial site of the victims were deep.
He fled the scene upon hearing an approaching helicopter. Army soldiers arrived moments later to see the killing field without any perpetrator in sight.
He confessed that the Ampatuans threatened to kill his family if he got caught.
Currently, Andal plead to the government to place him under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) but the Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to make its move.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that the Andal’s testimony is still being studied.
However, Andal is still provisionally covered by the WPP as of November 2012. | ASCS - FNPH
Source: GMA News
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Backhoe operator links Ampatuans to Maguindanao Massacre
Reviewed by Kristian S.
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11 July
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Reviewed by Kristian S.
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11 July
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