Over 1 million pilgrims benefit from golf cart service at Grand Mosque during Ramadan    Visitors welcomed with Eid initiative at Thee Ain Heritage Village in Al-Baha    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Messi's bodyguard banned from touchline at Inter Miami games    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Le Pen vows to appeal political ban, calls verdict a 'denial of democracy'    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 2,719 as rescue efforts continue    Russia, Ukraine trade blame over new energy strikes    Putin orders Russia's largest military call-up in over a decade    Albania hosts MWL chief for Eid sermon at largest mosque in the Balkans    Haramain High-Speed Railway transports over 1.2 million passengers during Ramadan    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Aide to witness to massacre gunned down
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 27 - 07 - 2010

Members of the clan suspected in one of the worst massacres in Philippine history are believed to be behind the weekend shooting death of an aide for a key witness to the mass killings, officials said Monday.
The attack Sunday appeared to be the latest case of harassment and intimidation of witnesses in the Nov. 23 ambush that killed 57 people, 30 of them journalists and their staff who were accompanying supporters of a gubernatorial candidate.
Gunmen strafed the center of a southern township, killing an aide to Vice Mayor Rasul Sangki, who runs the town, and wounding two other people, according to Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu.
Sangki has testified against the main suspects, including members of the Ampatuan clan who controlled Maguindanao province at the time of the killings. He told the court in January that Andal Ampatuan Jr., a former vice mayor, led a group of more than 100 local police and militiamen who stopped the campaign convoy, shot dead the victims and buried them in mass graves. Ampatuan, nine police officers and two militiamen have denied the charges against them. They are among 198 people charged with multiple murders in the largest criminal case since the country's World War II prosecutions.
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Sunday's attack was carried out by gunmen who included members of the Ampatuan family.
“A group of armed men, including some Ampatuans - grandsons, nephews or uncles - attacked a place where some witnesses are supposed to be housed,” she said.
Army troops backed by armored vehicles moved in to prevent an escalation of violence, said army spokesman Lt. Col. Benjie Hao. They also secured about 25 civilians who were hiding in a warehouse after they were caught in the clashes, he said.
The administration of newly elected President Benigno Aquino III has promised justice for the massacre victims.
The Ampatuans were allied with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who stepped down last month, and there were accusations of political interference in the trial and allegations that witnesses have been offered bribes not to testify. One man who came forward to testify was gunned down last month before he could be evaluated by government prosecutors.


Clic here to read the story from its source.