Dec 2, 2009
Philippine authorities announced on Wednesday all 1,092 police officers in a southern province would be replaced amid suspicion some of them may have taken part in an election-linked massacre last week. -- PHOTO: AP
MANILA - PHILIPPINE authorities announced on Wednesday all 1,092 police officers in a southern province would be replaced amid suspicion some of them may have taken part in an election-linked massacre last week.
They said the drastic move was also needed to try and stop the powerful Muslim clan linked to the killings from sabotaging the investigation, and because justice officials in Maguindanao province were living in fear.
'We cannot dismiss the possibility that they (the Ampatuan clan) may have relatives among those assigned there,' said Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, the region's police chief.
'We want to make sure that our investigation will not be sabotaged from the inside.' Fifty-seven people were shot dead on Nov 23 in a remote farming area of Maguindanao in a massacre that shocked the nation.
Local mayor Andal Ampatuan Jnr has been charged with 25 counts of murder over the massacre, and authorities have said at least eight of his family members are also being investigated. The rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, said the killings were carried out to stop him from running for office.
National police spokesman Leonardo Espina said on Wednesday the entire Maguindanao police force of 1,092 personnel would be replaced in the coming days. Replacements have already been dispatched to three towns where about 60 officers were detained for their possible involvement in the massacre. -- AFP
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