The Philippine Online Chronicles

Four survivors of the Maguindanao massacre have pointed to Ampatuan clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and son Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan as being behind the atrocity.

The survivors are currently in the care of Buluan, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Datu Ismail Mangudadatu, whose clan is the political rival of the Ampatuans. He has refused to name the four survivors saying, "They will come out at the right time, they are safe with us.”

Mangdadatu told dzBB radio that the survivors had witnessed Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Amptuan Jr., another son of Ampatuan Sr. and Zaldy Ampatuan’s brother, approach the vehicle where his wife, Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, was riding and got her out.

“Order ng kanyang tatay at order ni Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, yan ang kanyang statement [na] narinig ng witness ... May basbas ng kanyang tatay at regional governor [It was the order of his father and Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, that’s what the witness heard him say…This had the blessing of his father and the regional director],” Mangudadatu said.

He added that he would not turn them over to the police just yet. "Di pa namin binibigay sa authority, may pera ang Ampatuan (We won’t turn them over to the authorities yet. The Ampatuans have a lot of money)."

The Ampatuans have yet to issue any statement to the media about the incident.