Political parties urged to expel 'warlords' from ranks

MANILA, Philippines - The Lakas-Kampi-CMD urged other political parties to follow the example of the ruling party in expelling “warlords” from their ranks.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD secretary-general Francis Manglapus explained the expulsion of the Ampatuan family, who have been implicated in the infamous Maguindanao massacre last Monday, is part of the cleansing process that every political party must undertake.

Manglapus told the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt Hotel yesterday the expulsion of the Ampatuans was not a political but a moral issue.

The party expelled Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, on Wednesday.

The party said the Ampatuans “failed to uphold party ideals and principles… specifically relating to the peaceful, legal, democratic pursuit of political power.”

Lakas-Kampi-CMD relieved Ampatuan Sr. as party provincial chairman of Maguindanao and the ARMM governor as regional party chairman.

Their expulsion from the ruling party came three days after Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. was implicated in the massacre in Maguindanao that left over 50 dead.

Ampatuan reportedly led some 100 heavily armed men in blocking the convoy of six vehicles carrying the supporters of Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu on their way to file his certificate of candidacy for governorship in the provincial capitol of Shariff Aguak.

Police said 57 people, including journalists who were part of the convoy, were killed and their mutilated bodies buried in shallow graves near a remote farming road leading to Ampatuan town.

Ampatuan Sr. had been grooming his son Andal Jr., to take over as governor of Maguindanao in the 2010 local elections.

The younger Ampatuan was arrested and charged on Thursday for multiple murder.

The Ampatuans are known political allies of President Arroyo in the region.

Following their expulsion from Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Manglapus revealed the Ampatuans are now talking to other political parties on possible alliances in preparation for next year’s local elections.

“They (Ampatuans) are playing political games at their level,” Manglapus said.

He said the expulsion of the Ampatuans from the ruling party must serve as a warning to other political parties not to accommodate warlords in their ranks.

Manglapus said the party must uphold its principles and campaign on a game plan without force and intimidation.

He stressed the expulsion would also allow Lakas-Kampi-CMD “to infuse fresh blood in its ranks.”

Lawmakers led by Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to cancel whatever gun permits were issued to the Ampatuans and their followers.

Joson noted reports that several followers of the “Maguindanao Butcher,” now detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) compound in Manila, tried to visit the mayor armed with high powered firearms and M-16 rifles.

When Manila policemen accosted the group, they presented permits to carry firearms (PTC) outside residence issued by the PNP.

Joson said the PNP should now revoke all PTCs issued not only to the Ampatuans and their followers, but also to their political opponents and their supporters.

He said the AFP should do the same, if it has issued firearms or mission orders to feuding politicians and their zealots.

Joson expressed surprise over the report that the men who tried to enter the NBI premises where Ampatuan is detained had permits for their M-16s.

He said only law enforcers and soldiers are supposed to carry such kind of firearms.

Joson urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to impose an early total gun ban to reduce election violence.

In a related development, Sultan Kudarat Rep. Pax Mangudadatu asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to bar Ampatuan and others linked to the Maguindanao mass killing from leaving the country.

The congressman is an uncle of Buluan Vice Mayor Mangudadatu whose wife and other relatives were among those slaughtered last Monday.

In a letter to Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Rep. Mangudadatu said, “In view of the foregoing, in order that justice and the rule of law may be implemented and given due course, may I respectfully request that a hold departure order be issued to all suspects involved in this gruesome event.”

At the same time, Mangudadatu asked law enforcers in Mindanao to closely watch all ports and coastal areas to prevent the suspects from escaping through the country’s southern backdoor.

The escape of those behind the mass killing would “frustrate the ends of justice,” he said.  – With Jess Diaz