Maguindanao Massacre suspects join BIFF -Mangudadatu

MANILA, Philippines - Several suspects of the Maguindanao Massacre  case have joined the rebel group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fights (BIFF), the provincial governor revealed.

Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu said that he has received reports that a few of the men behind the bloodiest election-related violence in the country's history are being coddled by the BIFF.

"The Maguindanao Massacre suspects, balita namin nandoon na sa BIFF sila," Mangudadatu said in an interview aired Wednesday night on ANC.

The breakaway forces staged a week-long assault in January, clashing with government security forces, where 52 of the rebels and one soldier were killed in Mindanao.

"Ang panawagan ko sila [ay] sumali na lang sila dito sa ongoing peace process," Mangudadatu said.

The governor's wife and two sisters were among the 57 killed in the in November 2009 incident called "the single deadliest event for journalists" in the country.

The powerful Ampatuan clan is said to be behind the brutality amid Mangudadatu's gubernatorial bid that challenged former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr.