Maguindanao mayor who survived RPG attack dares nephew to face raps

COTABATO CITY  – Mayor Akmad “Mitra” Ampatuan Sr. of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, on Monday challenged his nephew to surrender and squarely face the charges in connection with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack in January this year.

“My son, come out and surrender; face the cases against you… We will see you in court. We’ll not face each other on the battlefield,” the mayor said in a press conference.

He was referring to Mayor Andal “Xyril” Ampatuan V of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao del Sur, who, along with 11 others, were charged with terrorism.

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Presiding Judge Alberto Quinto of Iligan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 1 issued the arrest warrant against Ampatuan V in connection with three counts of terrorism under Republic Act No. 11479.

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The charges are non-bailable.

Ampatuan V is the son of Andal Ampatuan Jr., also a former mayor of Datu Unsay and one of the primary suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre that killed 58 people, including 32 members of the media.

Akmad Ampatuan blamed Ampatuan V for the assassination attempt against him on January 25, with the attackers using a shoulder-mounted RPG.

He was aboard an armored black sports utility vehicle and trailed by his security escorts when hit by an RPG, followed by a volley of gunfire. The Shariff Aguak mayor survived unharmed, but two of his escorts were wounded.

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The Iligan City RTC also ordered the arrest with no bail recommended for Ababang Salik; Datu Unsay municipal councilors Edad Pendatun, Aboher K. Guimbangan and Mohamad Uday; Toraipie A. Lusod; Gapor Magaluyan; and barangay captains Samsudin K. Mokamad, Saudi M. Guiapal, Johari M. Guiapal, Soy Kali and Datuben Gayon Dimao.

Last May, lawyers of Akmad Ampatuan presented, during the preliminary hearing at the Department of Justice, the RPG alleged to have been used by his attackers.

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He stressed that he never used force or violence against his attackers since 2010, although he knew who they were.

“I was ambushed six times; I am the only person and mayor in the country who was attacked by an RPG,” he said in Maguindanaon. 

“I did not retaliate because I believe in our country’s justice system.”

He said there was only “one person who masterminded all the attempts against his life.”  When asked who he was referring to, Akmad Ampatuan refused to answer, but noted that Ampatuan V “knew the mastermind.”

Akmad Ampatuan said his relatives are after his head because he was a star witness against his uncle, the late former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr and Ampatuan Jr. in the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre, the worst election-related violence in the country and the single deadliest attack against the working press in the globe.

Akmad Ampatuan lauded the Department of Justice for acting on the case swiftly.

He said he is willing to reconcile once Ampatuan V surrenders and faces the charges against him.

Efforts to reach Ampatuan V for comments proved futile as of posting time.

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Capt. Abdul Gaffor Bubong, Datu Unsay municipal police station chief, said his office has not received the warrant of arrest against Ampatuan V and the 11 others.