Infamous Former Philippine Governor Dies During Lagging Murder Trial
Andal Ampatuan, Sr., who was about 75 years old, was being tried for the 2009 massacre of a rival political family. Authorities say he and his sons ordered the deaths of 58 people — including nearly three dozen journalists, the New York Times reported.
Though on trial, Ampatuan had been in a hospital in a coma after suffering a heart attack, officials said. His death Friday was attributed to medical complications from his condition.
The former governor of Maguindanao province, on the southern island of Mindanao, Ampatuan is accused of orchestrating the attack on family members of present Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, in November 2009.
According to investigators, the Mangudadatu family members were publicly walking with lawyers and supporters, covered by multiple journalists, to formally file political candidacy papers — when more than 100 people, led by Ampatuan’s son, allegedly tried to block them and shot them dead.
The victims, police say, were led down a dead end road, lined up and shot with shotguns and AK-47s. Both Ampatuan and his son denied involvement in the attack, butseveral witnesses placed Andal Ampatuan, Jr. at the crime scene and say he led the assault.
Called the Maguindanao massacre, it remains one of the worst political killings in Philippine history.
The trial started in 2010 and has been proceeding very slowly. Attorneys on both sides have recently been trying to move things along quicker.
The Philippines is considered by many one of the most dangerous nations in the world for journalists.
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