Aside from the mayor, Mamasapano Mayor Bahnarin Ampatuan, Datu Ulo Ampatuan, Datu Ipi Ampatuan and Datu Kanor Ampatuan were also named in the complaint.

Yacob allegedly agreed with the call of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr., during a meeting of political allies and supporters on Nov. 28 to resist and fight government forces.

“Let us use the thousands of guns that we have saved to fight the government,” the CIDG complaint quoted Yacob as saying.

But USec Ampatuan told MindaNews that the rebellion charge filed against his eldest brother is “made up!”

“He is not involved in the massacre. But this thing is now politics at its ugliest. I have always stood for government, preferring to be Filipino and not Moro or lean on to Islamist extremism. My brother always stayed in this faith  in the Republic of the Philippines. Pointing to him as a rebel pains my heart. But I advised him to take on the challenge. If he is charged, he may have to give up his post as mayor of Rajah Buayan. The one to replace him is no better than him. My brother fought for government vs (Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander Umbra) Kato’s men and kept his town free from Moro Islamist rebels and lawless elements,” USec Ampatuan said.

“If you notice, all those mayors named as rebels are just visitors of  (Ampatuan Sr.,) on November 28/29.  They were not plotting rebellion but were discussing political choices. Remember. Those were the times I was updating you about the political development. Imagine, even Datu Ombra Sinsuat was named as rebel. Well, obviously, he is a viable candidate for Gov so to hit him from out is important. The objective now is to replace all mayors with appointees or to simply intimidate them and keep them toe the line. The massacre issue is now being sidelined with a political massacre,” he said.

USec Ampatuan said there was, indeed a gathering on those days but it was more to decide on who was going to run for what, given the expulsion of the Ampatuans from the administration party, Lakas-Kampi and the nearing deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy on December 1.

Rajah Buayan was among three areas in Maguindanao which was reported to have armed groups massing, the two others being Mamasapano town and Barangay Reina Regente in Datu Piang.

But Mayor Yacob Ampatuan told reporters in an interview at the tactical command post of the 73^rd Infantry Battalion in Ampatuan, Maguindanao last Friday (where he was awaiting word about 24 of his constituents who turned their firearms) that the 24 who sought clearance did not  participate in the November 23 Ampatuan Massacre but simply wanted to turn their firearms in “to be cleared.”

The mayor said he doesn’t understand why martial law was declared and what the rebellion charges were all about, especially given that the Ampatuans are “pro-government.”

“We are pro-government. Never in our mind can we think of going against government,” he said.

Jonathan Loncada, municipal administrator, told MindaNews in the Rajah Buayan town hall compound last Friday that farmers have been kept busy here since last year because the Allah River had found another way towards Ligusan Marsh and floods that were a regular feature had not come, making planting “continuous.”.

Loncada said no armed groups were found massing here.

He added that when safe conduct passes were airdropped from helicopters, residents who were given firearms as members of an auxiliary group, and their relatives, wanted them to turn over the guns so they can be cleared.

In his December 10 report, Police Sr. Superintendent Sonny David,  ARMM Deputy Regional Director and chair of the Joint Security Coordinating Center, said 23 CVOs (civilian volunteer organization) “reportedly surrendered with their FA’s ammunition and accessories to 73^rd IB  in Raja Buayan, Maguindanao.”

The firearms are as follows: “five M-16 Colt rifles; 12 M16 Elisco rifles; three M1 Garand; four M14rifle and miscellaneous listed as 22 M16 short plastic magazines; four M14 magazines; Seven clip of M1 Garand; Five Garand ammunitions; 43 M14 ammunition; 118 M16 ammunition and 18 bandoliers.”

“Walang gulo dito,” said a resident. Another resident added, that the trouble is in “(Shariff) Aguak.”

Shariff Aguak is the provincial capital, seat of the provincial capitol and the town where the Ampatuan patriarch and most of his sons reside. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

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