Philippines to charge clan

Dec 7, 2009 Zaldy Ampatuan, governor of the Autonomous Region of Musslim Mindanao, being taken into custody on Saturday. -- PHOTO: AP MANILA - MEMBERS of a powerful Muslim clan rounded up after the Philippines imposed martial law in their provincial stronghold will be charged with rebellion, the government said on Sunday. The rebellion charges would be on top of murder cases being prepared against them over the November 23 massacre of 57 people in their home province of Maguindnanao, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said. 'We did not see them plotting against the government, we saw the deed done. They have usurped power from the government there,' he told DZBB radio. 'This is not ordinary chaos taking place in one area, this has an armed component. And there is removal of allegiance from the republic of the Philippines by the leaders of this group.' Under Philippine law, rebellion is punishable by life imprisonment. President Gloria Arroyo imposed martial law on Maguindanao late on Friday in an effort to rein in the Ampatuan family, a clan that until the massacre had ruled the province with the backing of the ruling coalition. Clan members are accused of being behind the massacre of a rival politician's relatives, as well as journalists and other civilians. One clan member, Andal Ampatuan Jr, was detained shortly after the killings and charged with 25 counts of murder. Police allege he and 100 members of an Ampatuan militia shot dead the occupants of a convoy that included female relatives of his rival for the post of governor in next year's elections, as well as a group of journalists. -- AF


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