MANILA, Philippines, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A local official says he saw the Nov. 23 massacre in the Philippines' Maguindanao province and blamed it on a political family but says he did not participate.
Justice Department Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Ampatuan Vice Mayor Rasul Sangki claimed Andal Ampatuan Sr. ordered his son, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., to carry out the slayings of 57 people in a convoy, GMANews.tv reported.
Devanadera said Sangki's testimony Wednesday should be enough to pin down the suspects.
"Vice Mayor Sangki's testimony was good," Devanadera said. "We have other witnesses, but for now I can say that Vice Mayor Sangki's testimony was good enough."
Testifying against the younger Ampatuan, Sangki said he overheard the son tell his father, "Father, they're already here," to which the elder Ampatuan allegedly responded, "Son, you already know what you must do."
Sangki said he hesitated stepping forward until now because of a "state of fear" pervaded in Maguindanao and he wanted to make sure the government was serious arresting and imprisoning the suspected, the television network said.
