Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Filipino slaying suspect endorses a prez candidate
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Filipino slaying suspect endorses a prez candidate
By JIM GOMEZ,Associated Press Writer -
39 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
MANILA, Philippines – The principal suspect in the Philippines' worst political massacre professed his innocence and endorsed a presidential candidate in a much-criticized press conference held in the capital's maximum-security jail.
"I know very well that I am not the perpetrator because I was in my town hall then," Andal Ampatuan Jr., former mayor of a town in southern Maguindanao province, told a group of journalists.
Looking fresh and relaxed in a yellow shirt and arm band, Ampatuan endorsed Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., the opposition candidate who is leading in the polls ahead of the May 10 presidential elections.
The conference sparked condemnation and fueled accusations that the current government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is favoring the powerful Ampatuan clan, which is suspected of plotting and carrying out the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people.
"We condemn this in the strongest terms, this is so callous," said Harry Roque, lawyer of the slain journalists. "This is another indication that we cannot get justice under this administration."
The massacre was unprecedented in a country known for election violence and political killings that have claimed hundreds of lives in the past decade. Among the victims were more than 30 journalists and their staff _ the deadliest known attack on media workers in the world. The killings elevated the Philippines to the top of a list of the world's most dangerous places for reporters.
At the conference, Ampatuan thanked Justice Secretary Alberto Agra's controversial April 17 decision to clear a brother and a brother-in-law of murder charges and repeated his family's claim that Muslim separatist guerrillas in their Maguindanao stronghold, where the massacre took place, carried out the killings. The decision not to prosecute the pair sparked street protests and public criticism from government prosecutors.
Monette Salaysay, 55-year-old wife of the slain editor of a provincial tabloid, said Ampatuan was trying to fool the public.
"How can he pretend to be innocent?" Salaysay asked. "If you can open my heart you won't find anything but pure hatred against these killers."
Prison officer Lloyd Gonzaga said Ampatuan operated through his lawyer to obtain permission for the conference. Prison authorities rarely allow inmates to hold news conferences.
Witnesses testified in court that Ampatuan led dozens of gunmen in blocking a convoy of the rival Mangudadatu clan members, followers and journalists as they were about to register a clan candidate to run in local elections. They were later shot on a nearby hilltop.
Three days after the killings, Ampatuan turned himself in to police. Prosecutors later filed an indictment against his father, clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., and dozens of others in February, in the country's largest murder case since World War II war crime trials.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Indonesia: Terror chief's relative gets 8 years AP - 16 minutes ago
Expedition recreates 'Bounty' survival-at-sea saga AP - 19 minutes ago
Filipino slaying suspect endorses a prez candidate AP - 39 minutes ago
As India booms, social welfare struggles to catch up Reuters - 55 minutes ago
Indonesian graft allows Islamist militancy to flourish Reuters - 1 hour 4 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Fog, rain again delay shuttle Discovery landing
Greece may use EU loan by next month: finance minister
Goldman Sachs posts soaring $3.46 bln profit
UK financial watchdog launches Goldman Sachs probe
Greece pays dearly to raise 1.95 bln euros
More Top Stories »
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Venezuelan boxer hangs himself after murder rap
Volcano cloud pushes European airlines to the brink: analysts
Ocean census uncovers 'new world' of marine microbe life
Airlines urge governments to reopen routes
Iceland eruption tapering off, spewing lava and less ash
More Most Viewed »
Two-million-year-old hominid sheds light on evolution
Taiwan's male 'Susan Boyle' a web sensation
EU emergency talks as volcano cloud havoc worsens
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Tuesday, 20 April 2010 Al Qaeda's two top Iraq leaders killed in raid
Al-Qaeda commanders killed in Iraq
Microsoft yanks "sexting" shot from Kin ad
YouTube to stream IPL semis and final live in US
Iraqi panel orders vote recount in Baghdad
Generation Beshir: Sudan's leader holds youth vote
US-TECH Summary
Air traffic bans boost video conferencing: Cisco
U.S. faults Sudan election but will work with victors
|
Airlines urge governments to reopen routes
Palm shares slide after software chief quits
Venezuelan boxer hangs himself after murder rap
Videogame titan Ubisoft going green
On anniversary, pope calls Church wounded sinner
|
Startup ALGO claims trading software nears speed of light
U.N. fears Congo pullout will hurt fight against rape
|
Netanyahu : No way to 'impose' Middle East peace
Official: Kyrgyz president leaves Kazakhstan
Ethnic group in Myanmar gears up for war, peace
Video shows Taliban swarming mountaintop base
2 bombs hit northwestern Pakistani city; 23 dead
Bombs at market, school kill 24 in Pakistan's Peshawar
3 rescued, 5 days after China quake killed 2,000
Armed Thai troops guard business zone
Air traffic bans boost video conferencing: Cisco
|
Startup ALGO claims trading software nears speed of light
|
Indonesia court upholds blasphemy law
Palm slides after losing key exec, RadioShack
|
India's TCS quarterly profit up 47%, beating forecast
China plants working for Microsoft break labor law
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"Back-up Plan" worked well for director Alan Poul
Ex-employee to sue Prada Japan over alleged harassment
Punk pioneer McLaren to be buried on Thursday
Not as close Aerosmith members put differences aside to tour
Rolling Stone puts entire archives online
Weinstein brothers closer to acquiring Miramax: WSJ
Pop pioneer hails Germany despite Holocaust misery
After 100 years, gypsy jazzman Django plays on
Final tally puts Kick-Ass atop box office
|
Jennifer Aniston sees movie directing in future
|
Volcanic ash hits Iron Man 2 premiere, strands stars
|
Back-up Plan worked well for director Alan Poul
|
Punk pioneer McLaren to be buried on Thursday
|
Turkey offers to act as Iran intermediary
Volcano fallout raises specter of airline aid
Facebook? Twitter? Microsoft tops social media use
Pope says he leads a 'wounded and sinner' church
Qatar suspends new visa plan
Fog, rain again delay shuttle Discovery landing
Few flights resume in Europe, new ash cloud reported
|
Asia computer sales up 38% in first quarter: IDC
Afghanistan kicks off registration for elections: official
Greece may use EU loan by next month: finance minister
Goldman Sachs posts soaring $3.46 bln profit
Online conferencing takes off amid volcano chaos
Turkey ready to be Iran nuclear deal intermediary
Amazon files lawsuit to block N.Carolina's data request
UK financial watchdog launches Goldman Sachs probe
Afghanistan kicks off 'registration' for elections
Thai red shirts call off march, stock prices jump
|
Third of U.S. teens with phones text 100 times a day
U.S. warns Syria on weapons transfers
LibDems target banks to build on momentum
|
Greece pays dearly to raise 1.95 bln euros
Google cyberattack hit password system: report
Iraqis say Qaeda deaths will not improve their lives
|
Al-Qaeda commanders 'killed in Iraq'
Netanyahu urges oil sanctions on Iran
Think-tank unveils website to boost aid controls
Greece borrows 1.95 bln euros but at high rate
Australian PM wins health deal aimed at re-election
|
South Sudan party accuses north of troop buildup
Facebook pages group people based on likes
Greek bond yields hit record high on investor fears
North Korea readying for 3rd nuclear test: report
|
IBM raises earnings outlook as technology spending improves
Bolivia hosts 'people's' climate change event
China says door not shut to negotiations with Iran
|
Asia computer sales up 38% in first quarter: IDC
White House cranks up pressure on finance reform
South Africa's Malema to escape ANC discipline
|
Indonesia: Terror chief's relative gets 8 years
Kyrgyz leaders try to quell violence
|
Expedition recreates 'Bounty' survival-at-sea saga
U.S. helps African navies with floating academy
|
Filipino slaying suspect endorses a prez candidate
Goldman Sachs posts huge profits amid fraud scandal
As India booms, social welfare struggles to catch up
Indonesian graft allows Islamist militancy to flourish
Thai protesters back down after live fire threat
Tanning bed usage may be addictive, study warns
Thai protesters fortify camps in heart of Bangkok
US summons Syria diplomat over Hezbollah arms transfer
U.S. to end military operations in Haiti on June 1
Witness
Malaysian lawmaker in trouble over polygamy
Google cyberattack hit password system: report
|
Amazon files lawsuit to block North Carolina's data request
|
Facebook? Twitter? Microsoft tops social media use
|
Fake security software still big problem
Volcanic ash hits "Iron Man 2" premiere, strands stars
China Mobile says profit up 1.1 percent
Third of U.S. teens with phones text 100 times a day
|
India hikes rates to counter 'worrisome' inflation
Nissan halts some vehicle production amid air havoc
Thomson
Asian markets boosted by US rally, bargain-buying
Indonesia under fire for upholding scripture over rights
Toyota pays record US fine, widens safety recall
Indonesia court upholds blasphemy law
Congo musicians, Rolling Stones at Cannes side-fest
Nissan to halt output due to parts shipment delay
Sri Lanka to host Indian film awards
China restricts pre-sales to curb property prices
MGM's uncertain future stops work on new 007 film
Pakistani o/n rates rise; rupee weakens; stocks down
Fox renews "Cops" for 23rd season
EU chamber says China business climate worsening
Anniversary for Brasilia leaves architect 'sad'
India's central bank hikes key interest rates
Music legend John Hammond gets film treatment
Grandiose sequel for epic Russian film
Judge rejects Carly Simon suit against Starbucks
Reality TV shatters taboos in India
Laurence Fishburne staying on CSI
|
Sex and the City 2 tickets already a hot item
|
Brother of Precious star apologizes for abuse
|
Judge rejects Carly Simon suit against Starbucks
|
Teen actress flexes muscles in Kick-Ass
|
Dragon testifies to box office life after opening
|
Fox renews Cops for 23rd season
|
Music legend John Hammond gets film treatment
|
James Bond movie delayed due to studio auction
|
Kelsey Grammer shines in La Cage Aux Folles
|
Pirates take 3 Thai ships with 77 crew
|
Internet video stokes Sudan poll fraud fears
|
Imposed Mideast solution would stoke violence: Israel FM
|
NATO troops fire on vehicle, kill 4 unarmed Afghans
|
Apple says iPad 3G available on April 30
|
Undersea telecoms cables face growing risks: report
|
Kylie back with single in June, album in July
|
Lily Allen, Dizzee Rascal lead shortlist for Ivors
|
Zoe Saldana is one tough cookie
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights