菲律宾大屠杀主谋自首但拒认罪

The main suspect behind the massacre of at least 57 people in the Philippines was handed over to police by his brother protesting his innocence. Andal Ampatuan, Jr.'s been flown out of Maguindanao province where the slaughter took place on Monday. He's been shipped out by a military helicopter as authorities move to dismantle his clan's control over the region. Witnesses say Ampatuan was at the site of the killings, but so far police have not filed charges against him.

"We’re looking at around, there are different accounts, but there are 100 that could have participated in the abduction and killing. We have also to look into the use of a backhoe with markings of the provincial government of Maguindanao."

The victims were members of the Mangudadatu family heading to register a relative's candidacy for governorship in elections next year and journalists are accompanying them. They were herded to a remote hillside and then attacked with guns and machetes. Their bodies and three of the vehicles of the convoy were hurled to a freshly-dug pit and covered with earth. On Thursday, the family buried its dead--all of them women.

"Of course, our anger has not disappeared. But thank God, we’ve come to terms with what happened. It's as if our relatives brought themselves to heaven, they sacrificed their lives for a lot of people."

"Women are supposed to be respected; they were violated. That’s all I can say."

The main suspect will be questioned in Manila where he is expected to face a formal enquiry and possible criminal charges.

Paul Chapman, Reuters.

Glossary [only for reference]

hand over [phrasal verb]: to give something/somebody to someone with your hand, especially because they have asked for it or should have it

protest [transitive]: to state very firmly that something is true, when other people do not believe you

slaughter [uncountable]: when large numbers of people are killed in a cruel or violent way

clan [countable]: a large group of families that often share the same name

ship [transitive]: to order someone to go somewhere

file [transitive]: to give a document to a court or other organization so that it can be officially recorded and dealt with

dismantle [transitive]: to put an end to in a gradual systematic way

account [countable]: a written or spoken description that says what happens in an event or process

abduction [uncountable and countable]: the action of abducting

backhoe [countable]: a large digging machine used for making roads etc

register [intransitive and transitive]: to put someone's or something's name on an official list

herd [transitive always + adverb/preposition]: to bring people together in a large group, especially roughly

machete [countable]: a large knife with a broad heavy blade, used as a weapon or a tool

convoy [countable]: a group of vehicles or ships travelling together, sometimes in order to protect one another

pit [countable]: a hole in the ground, especially one made by digging

come to terms with something: to accept an unpleasant or sad situation and no longer feel upset or angry about it

as if: in a way that makes it seem that something is true or that something is happening

sacrifice [transitive]: to willingly stop having something you want or doing something you like in order to get something more important

violate [transitive]: to do something that makes someone feel that they have been attacked or have suffered a great loss of respect

enquiry [countable]: an official process to find out about something