Claim: Facebook page Pork Ng Ina Mo claimed that Andal Ampatuan Jr., who was convicted in the gruesome Maguindanao massacre in 2009, was a Liberal Party member. (READ: WATCH: Trial of the decade: Highlights of Ampatuan massacre case)<\/p>\n
The page posted it on December 20, a day after the verdict on the Ampatuan massacre was handed down. <\/p>\n
The post also included a graphic that included a screenshot of a tweet by Liberal Party president Kiko Pangilinan and a photo of former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. wearing a yellow shirt.<\/p>\n
The caption for the post reads: Isn't it wonderful how Dilawans praise the conviction of the Ampatuans, who are members of their political party?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The post has gained over 300 shares with 650 reactions and 140 comments, as of writing. The claim was flagged by Facebook Claim Check, a tool used for spotting potentially false posts spreading on social media.<\/p>\n
Rating: FALSE<\/p>\n
The facts: The masterminds of the Ampatuan massacre were officials of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, the party of former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In fact, the Ampatuans were expelled from Lakas-Kampi CMD two days after the massacre.<\/p>\n
The Ampatuans were allies of Arroyo, head of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition at the time of the massacre. Arroyo is now a close ally of President Rodrigo Duterte.<\/p>\n
The Ampatuan family delivered votes for Arroyo in the 2004 presidential elections as well as a 12-0 sweep in favor of her selected senatorial slate, Team Unity, in the 2007 elections. <\/p>\n
When the massacre happened, Zaldy Ampatuan one of those convicted in the massacre was the regional chairman for Lakas-Kampi, while his father, Ampatuan clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., was the party's provincial chairman for Maguindanao province. Both were stripped of these positions following the massacre. <\/p>\n
Andal Ampatuan Sr. was also among those accused of masterminding the massacre. He died in 2015 while on trial for the massacre.<\/p>\n
At the time of the massacre, the senior Ampatuan had already reached the limit of 3 terms for the post of provincial governor of Maguindanao. The man convicted for leading the gruesome massacre, then-mayor of Datu Unsay town Andal Ampatuan Jr., was selected by the family to succeed his father as governor.<\/p>\n
Then-vice mayor of Buluan town Esmael Mangudadatu (now Maguindanao 2nd district representative) also chose to run for governor. (READ: Who is Toto Mangudadatu?)<\/p>\n
Mangudadatu's wife, his female siblings and other relatives were among those slaughtered in the massacre. They were headed for the provincial capitol, Shariff Aguak, to file a certificate of candidacy on his behalf when they were abducted and eventually murdered. Glenda Marie Castro and Gemma B. Mendoza\/Rappler.com<\/p>\n
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com<\/a>. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Go here to see the original:<\/p>\n FALSE: Convicted Ampatuan brothers are 'Liberal Party members' - Rappler<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Claim: Facebook page Pork Ng Ina Mo claimed that Andal Ampatuan Jr., who was convicted in the gruesome Maguindanao massacre in 2009, was a Liberal Party member. (READ: WATCH: Trial of the decade: Highlights of Ampatuan massacre case) The page posted it on December 20, a day after the verdict on the Ampatuan massacre was handed down. The post also included a graphic that included a screenshot of a tweet by Liberal Party president Kiko Pangilinan and a photo of former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr Continue reading