Hundreds of Filipinos rallied in a southern city on Sunday to voice their support for a local politician and his clan who were accused of ordering the massacre of 57 people earlier this
week.
Supporters of the Ampatuans gathered at the family's mansion in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao province as Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan met with mayors and other local politicians across the Mindanao region in a crisis meeting, local on-line news network
INQUIRER.NET reported.
"I am hurt by the allegations that my brother is involved," Zaldy Ampatuan told media. "I want due process and the law to work. "
The governor's brother Andal Ampatuan Jr., also a local mayor, was arrested and charged of masterminding the killing of 57 defenseless
journalists, lawyers, relatives and supporters of a rival politician. At least seven other member of the Ampatuan family were invited for questioning.
The military has also taken control of several government halls in Maguindanao -- a stronghold of the Ampatuan family -- while national authority is seen poised to take over the Ampatuans to run the province.
"Don't remove the Ampatuans from their positions," said rally placards.
"Ampatuans, not guilty".
The massacre occurred last Monday in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao when a six-vehicle convoy was flagged down by scores of militiamen along the
national highway. The victims were shot or hacked to death, dumped and buried in a shallow grave a few miles away from the provincial main road.
The convoy was scheduled to carry the wife of Buluan town vice mayor Esmail Mangudadatu to Shariff Aguak to register him as the governor
candidate to compete with Andal Ampatuan Jr. in next year 's provincial election.
After being named as the prime suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr. surrendered himself to authorities on Thursday as troops took moved in the province and
started to disarm the para-militia soldiers loyal to the family.
The Department of Justice, which has been preparing evidence for the seven counts of murder against the suspect, said they got at least 20
witnesses who could testify against Ampatuan Jr., the INQUIRER.NET reported.
On the other hand, Zaldy Ampatuan said his family had tapped at least 40 lawyers and would do everything to prove that his brother had nothing to do with the murders.
"Why are they dragging our names? I felt that they wanted to show to the public that we are violent. That the entire clan is behind the
incident," he said.