. Since the 1980s, these families have lorded it over the political landscape–not thru purely democratic means but thru the employment of terrorism. Residents of Mandaluyong are fed up with the tyrannical rule being imposed upon them by two political families–the Gonzales’ and Abalos’ families I experienced it personally last night when I did some grassroots organizing work [...]

A source who requested anonymity, said that one of the negotiating points discussed between the Ampatuans and the palace, led by Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza is for the younger Andal Ampatuan to be taken into custody but not be thrown to jail during the investigation stage. The negotiations happened inside the Ampatuan compound. Dureza [...]

Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr, the patriarch of the Ampatuan warlord clan, is a very close ally of Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Ampatuan’s role in the 2004 Hello Garci operation was substantial. Administration party candidates got ALL the votes of the Maguindanaoans last presidential elections, courtesy of course, by the Ampatuans whom election observers say, intimidated [...]