First published on March 30, 2010.
THE STORY goes that in his younger, wilder days, Andal Ampatuan Sr. – patriarch of the powerful family that holds sway over Maguindanao and much of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – used to ride a horse as he led a band of armed men in forays to hinterland villages.
Nowadays, members of the Ampatuan clan still go around with armed bodyguards. But they seem to prefer wheels to horses, and apparently in multiples at that.
According to the records of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Ampatuans could have as many as 121 various vehicles, including at least 53 top-of-line luxury rides that are the latest of their kind.
The Ampatuans’ fleet is sure to mock even those of the wealthiest tycoons.
Among the collection are three Hummers, three Land Rovers, three Land Cruisers, two Chevrolet Suburbans, four Isuzu D-Max, two Ford F-150s, nine Toyota Hi-Luxes, two Toyota Grandias, one Camry, one Strada, one Willy’s Jeep, one pink recreation van, 18 Isuzu trucks, three armored vehicles, and a Humvee military vehicle, among others.
They also have at least four McCormick farm tractors, four Kubota tractors, and three Massey-Ferguson farm tractors.
The clan’s vehicles include 26 registered in the name of Andal Sr; five registered in the name of his first wife, Bai Laila Uy Ampatuan; two registered in the name of Zaldy; and 17 other vehicles registered in the name of Zaldy’s wife, Bai Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan. But for more than half of the vehicles, many of which were parked at the warehouse of Andal Sr.’s mansion in Maguindanao last December, the LTO has no records at all.
A three-page document that is part of a report submitted recently to the Office of the Ombudsman meanwhile lists the vehicles said to belong to Andal Sr. and his son, suspended ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan “with registration papers from Land Transportation Office.”
The vehicles said to be Andal Sr.’s are:
1. Toyota Hi-Ace Grandia LGL 233
2. Toyota Hilux LGK 539
3. Ford Super Crew GOB 111
4. Toyota Hilux LGK 419
5. Toyota Hilux LFZ134
6. Toyota Hilux LFR 169
7. Toyota Fortuner LUA 11* (in the name of Bai Laila Uy Ampatuan)
8. Honda Motorcycle 4068 LB * (in the name of Bai Laila Uy Ampatuan)
9. Honda Motorcycle 4082 LB* (in the name of Bai Laila Uy Ampatuan)
10. Toyota HiAce Grandia LGC 612* (in the name of Bai Laila Uy Ampatuan)
11. Toyota Hilux LFD 371
12. Toyota Hilux LGK 812
13. Toyota Hilux 112-00000171839
14. Fort F150 pick-up GUV111
15. Ford F-150 pickup ATT 111
16. Isuzu Elf Dropside MBY 802
17. Toyota Camry 3.5Q A/T ZJU 477
18. Toyota Land Cruiser MCY 818
19. Ford F-150 pick-up MDJ 651
20. Toyota Hilux LGK 419
21. Isuzu Tractor Head MCR 508
22. Isuzu Tractor Head MCU 997
23. Trailer CUP 924
24. Trailer 2TMP09
25. Trailer 3TMP09
26. Isuzu Tractor Head MCS 388
27. Nissan Patrol ASA 888
28. Isuzu Truck Aluminum Wing Van RCP 519
29. Chevrolet Wagon ZGM 695
30. Isuzu Forward Dropside 4TMP09
Those said to be Zaldy Ampatuan’s but of which only two are actually in his name are:
1. Ford Expedition LEF 587
2. Isuzu Alterra LFW 366* (In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
3. Toyota Innova LFX 935*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
4. Toyota Land Cruiser LGG 927*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan) 5. Toyota Hilux LFN 612*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
6. Toyota HiAce Grandia LFW 106* (In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
7. Mitsubishi Adventure LFR 743*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan) 8. Toyota Land Cruiser LFR 775*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan) 9. Toyota HiAce Grandia LGC 387* (In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
10. Toyota Hilux LFJ 609*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
11. Mitsubishi Pajero DZN 168*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan) 12. Mitsubishi Pajero1112-00000240796
13. Isuzu Dmax LGB 447*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
14. Nissan Patrol LFB 662*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
15. Honda Civic LEU 836 *(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
16. Toyota Revo LER 352*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
17. Ford Chateau Wagon ZUA 777*(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
18. Mitsubishi Strada 112-00000167562 *(In the name of Johaira “Bongbong” Midtimbang Ampatuan)
19. Land Cruiser JSM 168
According to the document, the Toyota Hilux with plate number LFN 612 was “recently sold to Theresa E. Lomantas as evidenced by the Deed of Sale dated December 14, 2009, executed by Bong M. Ampatuan and Theresa E. Lomantas.”
Its second and third pages list 68 other vehicles, including trucks and tractors, and “assorted farm equipment.”
Of this figure, five are already included in the lists of Andal Sr. and Zaldy, while seven bear government plates (police patrol vehicles and a Humvee), Of the remaining 56 vehicles, three are owned by the Ampatuans: Mitsubishi Strada LFZ 541 is registered in the name of Soraida B. Ampatuan, widow of Saudi Ampatuan; a Toyota Hilux LGA 605 in the name of Andal Jr.; a Suburban Chevrolet with plate number GOV 888, which is not registered in Davao City but appears to be owned by Bai Zandria Sinsuat-Ampatuan, wife of Andal Sr.’s youngest son, Sajid;
As for the rest, a Toyota Grandia LGG 237 is registered in the name of Michael A. Sulaik; a Toyota Hilux LGM 664 in the name of Joemar Ayunan Olimpayan; and a green truck LFP 195 in the name of Kuzberi Lumenda Ampatuan.
That leaves some 50 that are unaccounted for. Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer says that based on his queries some Ampatuan vehicles are registered in the name of the family drivers.
(Editor's Note: This story was first published on March 30, 2010.)