CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao , Philippines – Gunmen lobbed grenades at the mansion of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. which exploded behind a mosque inside the compound in Shariff Aguak town.
Acting Maguindanao police commander Senior Superintendent Alex Lenesis said the attack could have been carried out by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), known to be at odds with the Ampatuan clan.
“We suspect it was the work of MILF rebels out to get even with the Ampatuans,” he said.
However, the MILF denied that they were involved in the attack.
Eid Kabalu, MILF civil and military affairs chief, said it’s impossible to launch attacks near the Ampatuan properties since they are under the full control of government troops.
Minutes after the grenade attack, a mortar shell exploded near a gasoline station owned by Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. near the Shariff Aguak public market.
Hours earlier gunmen stole three motorcycles from houses in the surrounding barangays and escaped towards a nearby town.
No one was hurt in the series of explosions but they triggered panic among residents in Shariff Aguak, Lenesis said.
Police said another group tried to break into the house of a son-in-law of Ampatuan Sr., Mayor Yacob Ampatuan of Sultan sa Barongis.
The burglars fled when responding soldiers fired warning shots.
At the Senate, Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. urged authorities to respond to reports that money was seized from the mansion of Ampatuan Sr. during a raid following the Maguindanao massacre last Nov. 23.
Between P400 million and P600 million in cash was found when troops opened the vault inside the Ampatuan mansion, he added, quoting newspaper reports.
Pimentel said the police and military should shed light on the alleged looting of Ampatuan money.
“The public deserves to know whether money was confiscated during the raid on the Ampatuan residence,” he said.
“If this is true, where is the money? If there is no truth to this story, then the police or military authorities should issue an official statement denying the alleged looting.
“But if this incident really took place, then they should conduct an immediate investigation, find out where the money was taken and identify the officer and men who had a hand in it.”
Pimentel said the story could not be easily dismissed in view of information that Ampatuan Sr. supposedly preferred to keep his money in his family vaults instead of in banks.
“Unless this matter is fully clarified by the authorities, this will serve as a blot to the reputation and credibility of our police and military organizations,” he said.
Pimentel said when troops raided the Ampatuan mansion the big, steel vault had reportedly been emptied.
If the money can be presented in court, it could be used as evidence to prove that the Ampatuans were involved in misusing government funds, he added. – With Ramil Bajo, Christina Mendez