But now they found a huge cache of guns and larger weapons near the Ampatuan mansions in Shariff Aguak, which were buried there two days after the massacre. The weapons were not issued to the local militias They came from an arsenal in Bataan...
The Inquirer notes:"
The discovery of the arms cache—which officials said represented enough firepower for an entire Army battalion—has prompted the military to launch an extensive investigation into possible gunrunning among its ranks.
“We were surprised at the find and more surprised to (dig up) government arsenal ammunition,” Brawner told the Inquirer."
This could be big: A year or two ago, when a marine patrol was ambushed, their mortars and other weapons failed, and there was speculation back then that the newer ammo had been sold off, and out of date weapons substituted.So you not only have the gov't arming local militias, and governors using local militias as their private armies, but you have them armed with weapons stolen/diverted from Armscor. Theoretically, if these were sent there legally, there should be a paper trail. If they were stolen/diverted, there won't be a paper trail.
The only good news: Two more Ampatuans arrested, Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. (father of the arrested mayor) and:
Security forces are now also holding Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan in connection with the massacre
(he is the murder suspect's brother).
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It's not just Mindanao, you know:
THIS Case shows how it works: kill five people when you are aiming at two of them, and you only get charged for two murders. So now you let your wife run for mayor in your place...
Poll officers being shuffled after threats, and the NEJournal reports 22 election officers are being moved around, presumably to stop intimidation.
update: Marshal law declared....they are debating about it on tv now.
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