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| Maguindanao : Philippine family clan members guilty of massacre | Maguindanao : Philippine family clan members guilty of massacre |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A Philippines court has found the masterminds of the country's worst political massacre guilty of murder. | A Philippines court has found the masterminds of the country's worst political massacre guilty of murder. |
| In 2009, 58 people - 32 of them journalists - were killed when their convoy was attacked in the southern province of Maguindanao. | In 2009, 58 people - 32 of them journalists - were killed when their convoy was attacked in the southern province of Maguindanao. |
| Five members of the clan, including brothers Andal Ampatuan Jr and Zaldy Ampatuan, were sentenced to life in prison. A third brother was acquitted. | Five members of the clan, including brothers Andal Ampatuan Jr and Zaldy Ampatuan, were sentenced to life in prison. A third brother was acquitted. |
| The case was seen as a test of the integrity of the justice system. | The case was seen as a test of the integrity of the justice system. |
| It comes amid claims by rights groups that impunity for powerful politicians is on the rise in the country, says the BBC's Howard Johnson in Manila. | It comes amid claims by rights groups that impunity for powerful politicians is on the rise in the country, says the BBC's Howard Johnson in Manila. |
| Three other members of the clan - Anwar Ampatuan Sr, Anwar Ampatuan Jr, and Anwar Sajid Ampatuan were also found guilty. | Three other members of the clan - Anwar Ampatuan Sr, Anwar Ampatuan Jr, and Anwar Sajid Ampatuan were also found guilty. |
| The Ampatuans deny all charges and said they would appeal against the verdict. | The Ampatuans deny all charges and said they would appeal against the verdict. |
| Other suspects, who were ordered by the Ampatuan family to carry out the killings, received sentences of between six to 10 years in prison. | Other suspects, who were ordered by the Ampatuan family to carry out the killings, received sentences of between six to 10 years in prison. |
| About 80 other suspects remain at large, including police officers and Ampatuan clan members. | About 80 other suspects remain at large, including police officers and Ampatuan clan members. |
| Many accused police officers were acquitted. | Many accused police officers were acquitted. |
| What happened in Maguindanao? | What happened in Maguindanao? |
| The restive province of Maguindanao had for years been governed by the Ampatuan family, who occupied almost all the political posts in the area. | The restive province of Maguindanao had for years been governed by the Ampatuan family, who occupied almost all the political posts in the area. |
| But in the elections for provincial governor, a rival from another influential clan emerged - Esmael Mangudadatu. | But in the elections for provincial governor, a rival from another influential clan emerged - Esmael Mangudadatu. |
| On Nov 23 in 2009, a convoy of vehicles carrying the wife, sisters and other female relatives of Mr Mangudadatu set out to register their candidate for the poll. | On Nov 23 in 2009, a convoy of vehicles carrying the wife, sisters and other female relatives of Mr Mangudadatu set out to register their candidate for the poll. |
| A group of 32 journalists and media workers were also there to capture the event - a total of 58 people were present. | A group of 32 journalists and media workers were also there to capture the event - a total of 58 people were present. |
| Their convoy was kidnapped by henchmen allegedly sent by members of the Ampatuan clan, who ordered them brought to a hilltop and shot. | Their convoy was kidnapped by henchmen allegedly sent by members of the Ampatuan clan, who ordered them brought to a hilltop and shot. |
| Their bodies were found in a mass grave. | Their bodies were found in a mass grave. |
| "My wife was shot 17 times. They shot her breasts, her private part. I cannot just forget that," said Mr Mangudadatu, who went on to be elected the governor of Maguindanao. | "My wife was shot 17 times. They shot her breasts, her private part. I cannot just forget that," said Mr Mangudadatu, who went on to be elected the governor of Maguindanao. |
| Rights group Amnesty International called Thursday's verdict a "critical step towards justice". | Rights group Amnesty International called Thursday's verdict a "critical step towards justice". |
| However, it said the "search for justice is far from over" and called for the government to "dismantle private armies that underpin the power of political clans". | However, it said the "search for justice is far from over" and called for the government to "dismantle private armies that underpin the power of political clans". |
| 'Say yes or get killed' | 'Say yes or get killed' |
| Today's guilty verdicts were a hammer-blow to what rights groups say is a culture of rising impunity that has enabled some Philippine politicians to literally get away with murder. | |
| A Human Rights Watch study of the Ampatuan clan in 2010, said they were considered "warlords" in the Maguindanao province. | A Human Rights Watch study of the Ampatuan clan in 2010, said they were considered "warlords" in the Maguindanao province. |
| The word of the clan was the law. "Either you said 'yes' to [them], or you got yourself killed," alleged a then-Ampatuan militia member. | The word of the clan was the law. "Either you said 'yes' to [them], or you got yourself killed," alleged a then-Ampatuan militia member. |
| While covering elections here, I've been warned to watch out for "hotspots" - local parlance for an area where the political rivalry is so fierce, threats can turn to violent acts. | While covering elections here, I've been warned to watch out for "hotspots" - local parlance for an area where the political rivalry is so fierce, threats can turn to violent acts. |
| President Duterte's spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, welcomed today's verdict - saying it was in keeping with the government's efforts to protect the media from "violence, threat and intimidation". | President Duterte's spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, welcomed today's verdict - saying it was in keeping with the government's efforts to protect the media from "violence, threat and intimidation". |
| But Mr Duterte hasn't had always had such a rosy relationship with the press. | But Mr Duterte hasn't had always had such a rosy relationship with the press. |
| "Just because you're a journalist," he said in 2016, "you are not exempted from assassination if you're a son of a bitch." | "Just because you're a journalist," he said in 2016, "you are not exempted from assassination if you're a son of a bitch." |
| Who were the victims? | Who were the victims? |
| The victims were mainly female relatives of Mr Mangudadatu and journalists who had been covering the story. | The victims were mainly female relatives of Mr Mangudadatu and journalists who had been covering the story. |
| No male relatives of Mr Mangudadatu went with them, as they feared they would come under attack. Mr Mangudadatu said he did not think women would be attacked. | No male relatives of Mr Mangudadatu went with them, as they feared they would come under attack. Mr Mangudadatu said he did not think women would be attacked. |
| The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described the killing as the single deadliest event for journalists in history. And today, journalists in the Philippines are not entirely safe. | The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described the killing as the single deadliest event for journalists in history. And today, journalists in the Philippines are not entirely safe. |
| According to the CPJ, it still remains the 10th most dangerous country to be a journalist, with some facing "online abuse and personal attacks" for their critical reporting of the government. | According to the CPJ, it still remains the 10th most dangerous country to be a journalist, with some facing "online abuse and personal attacks" for their critical reporting of the government. |
| Why has the case taken so long to resolve? | Why has the case taken so long to resolve? |
| It's been 10 years since the massacre happened and Thursday's trial saw verdicts on more than 100 suspects including members of the Ampatuan clan. | It's been 10 years since the massacre happened and Thursday's trial saw verdicts on more than 100 suspects including members of the Ampatuan clan. |
| Around 80 suspects are still at large. At least four witnesses have been killed before they could testify, according to media reports. | Around 80 suspects are still at large. At least four witnesses have been killed before they could testify, according to media reports. |
| "Observers have argued [that] the power of the Ampatuan family and its extensive network of allies and contacts in itself constitutes a threat to the proceedings," the International Press Institute (IPI) said. | "Observers have argued [that] the power of the Ampatuan family and its extensive network of allies and contacts in itself constitutes a threat to the proceedings," the International Press Institute (IPI) said. |
| According to the IPI, a court interpreter quit after he was allegedly threatened by the Ampatuans. | According to the IPI, a court interpreter quit after he was allegedly threatened by the Ampatuans. |
| Several family members of the deceased have also reportedly said that the defence offered them money to withdraw from the case. | Several family members of the deceased have also reportedly said that the defence offered them money to withdraw from the case. |