Philippine troops seize more weapons tied to massacre

SHARIFF AGUAK - Security forces Sunday unearthed dozens of high-powered firearms and ammunition from a sprawling farm in a southern province of the Philippines two weeks after 57 people were massacred.

At least 39 long firearms, including M60 and .50-calibre machine guns and M16 rifles, were dug up from a mango orchard in Limpongo village in Datu Hofer town, Maguindanao province, 930 km south of Manila.

Boxes of assorted ammunition with national defence markings were also found, said Lieutenant Colonel Michael Samson, a military spokesman.

“The arms cache appears to have been hastily buried,” Samson said as police investigators dug deeper while troops used metal detectors and sniffer dogs to search other possible sites.

Samson said the farm was believed to be owned by Datu Andal Ampatuan Senior, governor of Maguindanao province, who was arrested Saturday for allegedly being involved in the massacre Nov 23 in Ampatuan town.

The farm, located about two km from the capital town of Shariff Aguak, is fenced with barbed wire. At least three thatched houses on the grounds were abandoned.

Five of Ampatuan Senior’s sons - all local executives in the province and a Muslim autonomous region - have also been arrested for the mass slaughter. The crime was an apparent attack on relatives and supporters of a political rival of the clan.

Samson said the site was discovered after concerned citizens gave authorities a tip.

“We have been receiving numerous information on where firearms and ammunition have been hidden by the Ampatuans,” he said.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Saturday imposed martial law in Maguindanao after heavily armed groups were monitored to have “established positions to resist government troops” investigating the massacre.

“Public peace and order in Maguindanao has deteriorated to the extent that the local judicial system and other government mechanisms in the province are not functioning, thus endangering public safety,” she added.