MANILA: Gunmen loyal to a powerful clan accused in the Philippines’ worst political massacre clashed with police in the first reported violence since martial law was imposed in the southern region.
No casualties were reported and government negotiators were trying to persuade about 2,400 gunmen to surrender peacefully to avoid bloodshed, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno told reporters in Manila.
About 20-30 armed followers of the Ampatuan clan, the main suspect in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people traveling in a rival’s election convoy, opened fire on police commandos late Sunday while they were patrolling Datu Unsay township, near the site of the massacre, national police chief Jesus Verzosa said.
The attackers withdrew after two armored troop carriers were sent to repel them, Verzosa said.
He said the assailants were among more than 2,400 gunmen who had massed in 16 of Maguindanao’s 36 townships to defend the Ampatuan clan, which has ruled the province unopposed for years.
Government negotiators were trying to convince the gunmen to surrender to avoid bloodshed that could harm civilians, Verzosa said.
“If they don’t, we’ll have to look for them,” Verzosa told foreign correspondents in Manila.
Army troops have raided the Ampatuans’ mansions, farms, warehouses and offices and discovered a huge arsenal of weapons, including machine guns, grenade launchers and nearly half a million rounds of ammunition.