AFP takes over Maguindanao: Andal Ampatuan Jr. to resist arrest

The Philippine military has taken over the Provincial capitol of Maguindanao ahead of the expected arrest and detention of Datu Unday mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the mastermind behind the gruesome and the most barbaric election-related violence in Philippine history.

Ampatuan Jr is reportedly holed inside one of the houses in the Ampatuan compound in Sharif Aguak, guarded heavily by armed men loyal to his father, Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. The elder Ampatuan, reports say, refuses to turn his son over to the authorities.

(Malacanang, meanwhile said, Jesus Dureza, a close Arroyo envoy, is expected to get inside the compound and accompany the younger Andal to the provincial capitol for investigation. After this, the two will ride an airplane or a helicopter.)

A clash is one of the scenarios being considered by the PNP and the AFP. Sources told PinoyObserver that several relatives of the younger Ampatuan refuse to subject their kin to investigation and arrest because of fears that relatives of the Mangundadatu will try to strike and hit the younger Ampatuan in jail.

Several armed men, believed to be close associates of the Ampatuans and were also involved in the massacre which killed 57 people, are guarding the 40-year old Andal inside the compound, armed with high-powered firearms and bombs. A cache full of arms and ammunitions is reportedly being kept in an underground room inside the compound.

A source say, several jeepneys loaded with boxes full of bullets and food were seen entering the compound, a few hours after the massacre. The younger Andal vowed never to be arrested because the clan fears that several assassins are now deployed to kill him.

Another possibility is being taken into serious consideration by the authorities, one of which is to take Andal Ampatuan Jr. into detention and fly him to Camp Crame.

This is one of the points negotiated by Jesus Dureza and the Ampatuans. What is most disturbing is no warrant of arrest is yet to be released against the Ampatuans.