Philippine govt file rebellion charges against 5 Ampatuan members
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Philippine government prosecutors have filed rebellion charges Wednesday against five members of the Ampatuan family.
The rebellion charges were filed in connection with the family' s involvement in the November 23 massacre which claimed 57 lives including women and journalists. The rebellion charges were filed at the Cotabato City Regional Trial Court.
Based on the information sheet provided by the Philippine Department of Justice to reporters, state prosecutors said the following are charged with rebellion charges: former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr., Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Uy Ampatuan, Akmad Tato Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan and Sajid Islam Ampatuan.
The government also filed rebellion charges against 19 supporters of the Ampatuan family.
Philippine state prosecutors said the Ampatuans are the "heads of the rebellion, conspiring, confederating and cooperating with each other, as well as with the other accused...did then and there willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously help, support, promote, maintain, cause, direct and/or command their co-accused who are their followers to rise publicly and take arms against the Republic of the Philippines."
State prosecutors said the rebellion was "in violent reaction to the arrest and prosecution of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr."
Andal Jr. was arrested November 26 and was charged with 25 counts of murder. He's now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.
The resolution also read that Ampatuan clan's "loyal private armies" have high-powered firearms and are hiding in a far-flung areas of Maguindanao. The private armies are "ready to harm, impair and attack" the Philippine government if the Ampatuan family and their supporters will be arrested.
The government imposed a martial law in the province of Maguindanao late Friday night in an effort to curb "lawless violence" there following the November 23 massacre.
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