Mangudadatu 'bodyguard' kills 2 in Olongapo

An alleged bodyguard of Buluan Vice-Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, gubernatorial candidate in Maguindanao province, killed two security personnel of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Olongapo City on Monday.

Initial reports identified the fatalities as retired policeman Delfin Orines and Seferino Abadia, 60, members of the SBMA security force.

The 2 were shot dead inside the SBMA's Law Enforcement Department's office by Ali Mohamedin Panegas, who allegedly identified himself to authorities as one of Mangudadatu's bodyguard.

Reports said Panegas was accosted and then brought to the SBMA's Law Enforcement Department office for investigation. The suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and shot dead the victims.

Panegas has been arrested and currently detained at the same office.

Mangudadatu, meanwhile, denied that Panegas is his bodyguard.

"Hindi ko siya kilala. Sa ngayon maraming naglalabasang paninira laban sa aming pamilya," the vice-mayor said.

Mangudadatu's wife and 2 sisters were among the 57 people massacred by a group of gunmen allegedly led by Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province last November 23.

The massacre victims were on their way to file a certificate of candidacy for governor on behalf of Mangudadatu when they were stopped and killed by more than 100 gunmen.

Mangudadatu has already filed his COC for governor.

Ampatuan Jr., meanwhile, is currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila and has been charged with 41 counts of murder for the massacre.

Other members of the Ampatuan family, including its patriarch, former provincial governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. are also being implicated by police in the massacre. With reports from Zyan Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News

71 CVOs surrender arms in Buluan

Militia members controlled by the Mangudadatu clan in Buluan town, Maguindanao province on Wednesday voluntarily surrendered their firearms to the authorities.

Police said a total of 71 Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) members were presented by the Mangudadatu clan to officials of the military and the police.

A joint statement by the military and the police said the CVO members turned over at least 45 registered and loose firearms.

Members of the Mangudadatu clan, meanwhile, asked the Philippine National Police to deploy more policemen in the town due to fears of reprisal from armed men loyal to their rival clan, the Ampatuans.

“While we have been taking positive steps toward the complete disarming of Maguindanao by uncovering numerous arms cache in Shariff Aguak, what we are witnessing today is a giant leap to peace,” the military and the police said in the joint statement.

Shariff Aguak, the capital town of Maguindanao, is the main stronghold of the Ampatuan clan.

The statement added: “A giant leap considering that the people of Buluan have decided on their own that the way to genuine peace is disarmament.”

The police and the military, meanwhile, called on other local officials and residents to follow the lead of the Mangudadatus for the complete disarmament of the province.

Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, who is running for governor in 2010, lost his wife and two sisters in the infamous Maguindanao massacre last November 23.

Mangudadatu’s wife and two sisters, accompanied by supporters and journalists, were on their way to Shariff Aguak to file a certificate of candidacy for governor on his behalf when they were abducted and massacred in Ampatuan town.

The massacre and the alleged massing of private armies identified with the Mangudadatu clan prompted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to impose martial in some parts of the province.

Former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., his sons and other members of his family have been arrested for alleged rebellion.

His other son, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who allegedly led the massacre, has been charged with 25 counts of murder and detained in Manila.

Ampatuan Jr. was supposedly being groomed by his family to become the province’s governor.

Reports from Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News and Noel Alamar, radio dzMM
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