BI checking records for ‘wanted’ Maguindanao municipal mayor

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is checking their records to determine if Mayor Zahara Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, who is wanted for murder, is still in the country.

BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison said Monday that they would first check the veracity of a news report that a warrant had been issued against Ampatuan in connection with the murder of Alfredo Amelista, secretary of the municipal council, last April.

“If there is a warrant, we will include this person in our database,” said Mison.

He said they needed to coordinate first with the court, as there were previous instances when the issuing court does not immediately inform the BI if a warrant or a hold departure order has been issued against a person.

It was reported that Ampatuan, a daughter-in-law of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., has been temporarily replaced by Vice Mayor Marop Ampatuan.

The mayor reportedly went into hiding after learning that a warrant had been issued against her.