Ma surrenders suspect in Maguindanao massacre

DAVAO CITY -- Sharif Aguak Mayor Zahara Ampatuan surrendered to authorities Sunday his son, who is among the suspects in the Maguindanao massacre in 2009.

Military spokesman Colonel Leopoldo Galon Jr. identified the suspect as Epi Ampatuan, grandson of former governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., who is also facing charges for the Ampatuan massacre.

Galon said the massacre suspect was surrendered by her mother at 5:20 p.m. Sunday.

The young Ampatuan was among the victims injured in an explosion in Barangay Libutan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Sunday. The explosion also left six others wounded.

Galon said Mayor Zahara Ampatuan surrendered her son to 1st Mechanized Brigade commander Colonel Mayoralgo dela Cruz almost four hours after the explosion.

The blast happened around 1:30 p.m. Sunday. A pump boat operator was killed, while six others, including one commander Dagadas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's 118th base command, were wounded.

Galod said dela Cruz contacted the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office to report about the young Ampatuan’s surrender.

The suspect was fetched in Barangay Nabundas, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao, and was brought to Notre Dame Hospital in Cotabato City for treatment.

The suspect was placed under the watch of the Cotabato City Police Office (CPPO) and Marine Battalion Landing Team.

Galon said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao coordinated with the CPPO for the serving of the warrant of arrest to the suspect.

Last November 23, 2009, 58 people, including 32 media workers (the remains of one is still missing to date), were killed in the worst election-related violence in the country.

The media victims in the Ampatuan massacre were then part of the convoy tasked to file the certificate of candidacy of now Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, who also lost his wife and several female relatives in the massacre. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)