Andal Ampatuan Jr.

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Andal Ampatuan Jr.
Born (1976-08-15) August 15, 1976 (age 45)[1]
Cotabato City, Philippines
Other namesDatu Unsay
OccupationFormer mayor of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao
Political partyIndependent (2009–present)
Lakas–CMD (1993–2009)
Criminal statusCurrently incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison
Spouse(s)Bai Reshal Santiago (died 2018)
Children6
Parent(s)Andal Ampatuan Sr. (father)
RelativesZaldy Ampatuan (brother)
Conviction(s)57 counts of mass murder
Criminal penaltyReclusión perpetua without parole (maximum of 40 years)

Andal "Datu Unsay" Uy Ampatuan Jr. (born August 15, 1976) is a Filipino convicted mass murderer and former politician. He is one of the main perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre along with his father, brothers, and nephews. At the time of the massacre, he was the outgoing mayor of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao, and was planning to run for provincial governor, the position his father, Andal Sr., was set to vacate. Esmael Mangudadatu, from a rival political clan, declared his candidacy for the 2010 gubernatorial elections thus challenging Ampatuan for the post. The Ampatuans carried out the massacre to kill Mangudadatu.[3]

On December 19, 2019, Andal Ampatuan Jr., alongside his brother Zaldy and other co-accused, were convicted of 57 counts of murder and sentenced to reclusión perpetua.[4]

Role in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre[]

Main article: Maguindanao massacre

Ampatuan came to international attention in November 2009 as a result of the Maguindanao massacre. He was planning to run for governor of the province against Esmael Mangudadatu in the 2010 elections. However, Mangudadatu's female relatives and a group of journalists were ambushed and killed in the massacre, and Ampatuan quickly became the prime suspect.[5] A member of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, he and his father and brother were expelled by party chairman Gilberto Teodoro due to the massacre.[6] He surrendered to Filipino authorities and was charged with murder.[7] He has denied any involvement,[8] though several witnesses have gone on record stating that they saw him at the scene of the crime.[9] In September 2010 he went on trial as the prime suspect in the massacre. Ampatuan, through his emissaries, was already under fire for bribing the relatives of the massacre.[10]

Personal life[]

Andal Jr. is the eighth of the eleven children of Andal Ampatuan Sr. with his first wife Bai Laila Uy-Ampatuan. Zaldy is his full-blooded brother. He has more than thirty other siblings through his father's five other wives.[2]

Andal Jr.'s first wife, Reshal Santiago Ampatuan, served as mayor of Datu Unsay until her death due to cardiac arrest in 2018; she was 38.[11] The couple had six children.[12]

Their son, Andal V (nicknamed "Datu Aguak", the second of the six siblings), garnered the highest number of votes in the 2019 Datu Unsay municipal council elections. In July that year, the town's mayor and vice mayor resigned, citing "lack of capability to govern". In accordance with the Local Government Code, Andal V became the town's new mayor. The new vice mayor is also a relative of theirs: Janine Ampatuan Mamalapat.[12][13]

Ampatuan has a second wife named Shahira.[2]

Ampatuan declared his 2008 net worth as ₱39.3 million, making him the richest in his family. He had 16 properties in Davao City with a total market value of ₱11.22 million.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ MERUEÑAS, MARK (August 19, 2011). "Tacurong car bomb a birthday 'gift' for Gov. Toto Mangudadatu?". GMA News. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Arguillas, Carolyn O. (December 7, 2019). "Shamefully rich clan has 35 houses, fleet of wheels". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Ampatuans, Mangudadatus were allies for decades Archived November 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 23, 2009.
  4. ^ Santos, Eimor; Tan, Lara; Lopez, Melissa (December 19, 2019). "Maguindanao massacre: Andal Jr., Zaldy Ampatuan convicted; brother walks free". CNN Philippines. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  5. ^ Conde, Carlos H.; Norimitsu Onishi (November 25, 2009). "Suspect in Philippine Election Killings Surrenders". The New York Times. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  6. ^ Ubac, Michael Lim (November 25, 2009). "3 Ampatuans expelled from admin party". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  7. ^ Tran, Mark (November 26, 2009). "Philippines massacre: police charge local politician with murder". BBC News. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  8. ^ Sisante, Johanna (November 26, 2009). "Andal Ampatuan Jr. denies hand in Maguindanao massacre". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  9. ^ More witnesses link Ampatuan Jr. to massacre. ABS-CBN News. November 27, 2009.
  10. ^ Bordadora, Norman (July 14, 2010). "Ampatuans trying to bribe witnesses – DoJ". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 17, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  11. ^ Fernandez, Edwin O. (April 6, 2018). "Wife of Maguindanao massacre suspect dies during prayer". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Cabrera, Ferdinandh B. (July 25, 2019). "Another Ampatuan is now mayor in Maguindanao". MindaNews. Cotabato City: Mindanao Institute of Journalism. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  13. ^ Balasbas, Rhommel (July 25, 2019). "Anak ng pangunahing suspek sa Maguindanao massacre nanumpa bilang alkalde ng Datu Unsay". Radyo Inquirer (in Tagalog). Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
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