MANILA: Philippine police on Wednesday named 161 suspects in the massacre of 57 people last month in the country’s worst election violence, including government militiamen led by members of a powerful clan facing murder and rebellion charges.
Witnesses have said Andal Ampatuan Jr., a scion of the clan, led the group of militiamen who attacked a rival’s convoy on Nov. 23 in the southern province of Maguindanao, national police Chief Jesus Verzosa told reporters. The dead included 30 journalists and their staff. He said witnesses told investigators Ampatuan himself shot some of the victims in Ampatuan township — named after his family, which has ruled the impoverished province unopposed for years. The bodies bore bullet wounds in the mouth and chest fired from close range, Verzosa said.
Police said the bodies of some of the 21 female victims were mutilated, including their sexual organs. Authorities earlier said at least five women may have been raped.
Police said the militiamen, all but two at large, were identified by witnesses Tuesday. Their names will be submitted to prosecutors to be included in the charge sheet and court warrants of arrest.
Photos of about 100 newly identified suspects were displayed at the national police headquarters in Manila. Of the 161 suspects identified by authorities, 100 are militiamen and the remainder are members of the Ampatuan clan or are police, army and local officials working for the Ampatuans. About 30 have been arrested.
Air force planes and helicopters dropped thousands of leaflets urging Ampatuan followers to give up or face an assault.
