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“They Own the People”
The Ampatuans, State-Backed Militias, and Killings in the Southern Philippines
Map of
Central Mindanao
Glossary of
Terms and Abbreviations
Summary
Key
Recommendations
Methodology
I. Background
The Legacy
of Violence in Mindanao
The
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
The Rise of
the Ampatuans
Paramilitary
Forces and Private Armies
II. Pattern of Abuses
Map of
Maguindanao
Killings and
Other Serious Abuses by Ampatuan Forces
Killings and
Other Abuses to Expand Political Power
Revenge
Killings and Other Abuses
Violence
Directed Against Women and Girls
Revenge
Killings by the Mangudadatu Family
III.Perpetrators: The Ampatuans’ State-Backed
Militia
Structure of
the Ampatuans’ Militia
Recruitment,
Payment, and Training
Weaponry
IV. The National Government and Militia Abuses
Direct
Support for the Ampatuans
Failure to
Regulate and Oversee
Appointment
of Provincial and Municipal Police Chiefs
Absence of
Auditing
Failure to
Investigate and Bring Perpetrators to Justice
Fears of
Retribution
Poor
Policing
Threats to
Human Rights Defenders
Weakness of
Human Rights Institutions
National
Commission on Human Rights
Office of
the Ombudsman
Role of
Internal Investigations Within PNP, AFP
After the
Maguindanao Massacre
V. Legal Framework
Duty to
Investigate and Prosecute Human Rights Violations
Philippine
National Law
Duties of
Law Enforcement Officials
Command
Responsibility
Recruitment
and Use of Children in Armed Activities
VI. Role of the International Community
VII. Recommendations
To the
President of the Philippines
To the
Department of Justice
To the
Department of Interior and Local Government
To the
Philippine National Police
To the Armed
Forces of the Philippines
To the
National Bureau of Investigation
To the
Philippine Congress
To the
Commission on Audit
To the
Commission on Human Rights
To the
Ombudsman’s Office
To Donors
and External Partners, Including the United States, European Union, Japan,
Australia, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank
To the
United States, European Union Member States, Japan, Australia, and other
Concerned Governments
To the US
Government
VIII. Appendix
Letter from
Human Rights Watch to Police Director General Jesus A. Verzosa
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