Charges over mass murder

THE patriarch of a powerful clan pleaded not guilty today to charges he masterminded the 2009 massacre of at least 57 political opponents and journalists in the Philippines’ worst election-related killings.

Andal Ampatuan Sr was arraigned in a special court inside a Manila maximum-security prison, 18 months after he and a dozen family members were arrested over the killings in southern Maguindanao province.

With his father’s approval, Ampatuan’s son, former town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr, is accused of leading about 150 gunmen who allegedly stopped an election caravan and mowed down the family and supporters of their political rival.