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Death of Andal Ampatuan Sr not the end of clan rule in Mindanao

Jeoffrey Maitem

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Death of Andal Ampatuan Sr not the end of clan rule in Mindanao

Canon Marketing Philippines Inc.

The death of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, the alleged mastermind in the 2009 massacre of 58 in Ampatuan town, is not the end of his clan's hold on local politics, says his son Sajid

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao – The death of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, the alleged mastermind in the 2009 massacre of 58, is not the end of his clan’s hold on local politics, says his son Sajid. 

Tens of thousands of people from several parts of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), including governors from island provinces, converged on Tuesday, July 21, at the grave site in the Ampatuan residence to pay respects to the former governor. 

Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, cousin of Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu – whose wife and relatives were among those shot in a brutal execution in Ampatuan town – personally extended his family’s condolence.

“We are here along with my family to sympathize with your loss. This is to show that the friendship of my father and your father was not broken,” Mangudadatu told Andal Sr’s son Sajid as they met before going to the burial site.

The father of the Sultan Kudarat governor, former congressman Pax Mangudadatu, and Ampatuan Sr, were close friends.

The meeting was brief, with the Mangudadatu group leaving after offering prayers. Governor Mangudadatu assured Sajid that the Mangungudatu clan is available to help. 

‘Not the end’

Sajid Ampatuan is one of the massacre’s suspects and is currently out on bail. He told reporters that the family is pleased to see the number of people who came to pay their respects to his father.

“My father’s death is not the end of our clan,” Ampatuan said. 

He added that the family’s council of elders has decided to name former Maguindanao Representative Simeon Datumanong to lead their family after the death of their father. 

“Now my father was gone, we chose Datumanong as our leader. We will listen to him whatever he says,” the young Ampatuan said.

For his part, Datumanong said he would help the Ampatuans.

“We do what we can to bring about better cooperation and better support for each other towards peaceful existence and co-existence, as well as to promote the effort for better livelihood,” he said.

Ampatuan Sr passed away on Friday night, July 17, in Manila. He had been confined since June 5 at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, a government hospital in Quezon City, because of liver cancer. He was transferred to the intensive care unit 4 days before his death. – Rappler.com

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