Sajid Ampatuan
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Datu ''Datu'' is a title which denotes the rulers (variously described in historical accounts as chiefs, sovereign princes, and monarchs) of numerous Indigenous peoples throughout the Philippine archipelago. The title is still used today, though no ...
Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan is a Filipino politician who served as
governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
of
Maguindanao Maguindanao (; Maguindanaon: ''Dairat nu Magindanaw''; Iranun: ''Perobinsia a Magindanao''; ) was a province of the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). From 2014 to 2022, its provincial capital ...
.


Career

Sajid Ampatuan was elected as vice governor of Maguindanao in the 2004 elections while his father
Andal Ampatuan Sr. Andal Ampatuan Sr. (1940/1941 – July 17, 2015) was a Filipino politician who was the main suspect in the Maguindanao massacre. He was the patriarch of the Ampatuan political family in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao in the Phil ...
was elected as governor of the province. Ampatuan Sr. resigned in 2008 with Sajid succeeding him. Sajid Ampatuan himself vacated the office following the
Maguindanao massacre The Maguindanao massacre (also known as the Ampatuan massacre, named after the town where mass graves of victims were found) occurred on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao, Philippines (now located in Ma ...
in November 2009 in the municipality of
Ampatuan Ampatuan is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Andal Ampatuan Sr., former governor of Maguindanao province, the Philippines, and co-suspect in the Maguindanao massacre *Andal Ampatuan Jr., former mayor of Datu Unsay, Maguindanao p ...
. He and his brothers
Zaldy Zaldy Goco (born 1966),. "Zaldy, 38"; . "It was early August ..Zaldy was a preternaturally young-looking 48." also known mononymous person, mononymously as Zaldy, is a Filipino-American fashion designer. In 1995, he was featured as a model in ...
, Anwar and Andal Jr., and brother-in-law Akmad were implicated to the massacre and were detained. He was released on bail in March 2015 and acquitted in 2019. Tasked by his father to lead the "reunification" of the Ampatuan political clan, Sajid Ampatuan would run for the position of mayor of Shariff Aguak in the
2016 elections Africa Benin Republic *2016 Beninese presidential election 6 March 2016 Cape Verde * 2016 Cape Verdean presidential election 2 October 2016 Chad * 2016 Chadian presidential election 10 April 2016 Djibouti * 2016 Djiboutian presidential ...
under the
United Nationalist Alliance The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA ) is a political party in the Philippines. It was created as a multi-party electoral alliance replacing the former United Opposition (UNO) coalition for the 2013 midterm elections, before it was launched ...
. He lost his mayoral bid. He was elected as vice mayor of
Shariff Saydona Mustapha Shariff Saydona Mustapha, officially the Municipality of Shariff Saydona Mustapha ( Maguindanaon: ''Inged nu Shariff Saydona Mustapha''; Iranun: ''Inged a Shariff Saydona Mustapha''; ), is a municipality in the province of Maguindanao del Sur, Ph ...
in the
2022 elections The following elections were scheduled to occur in 2022. The National Democratic Institute also maintains a calendar of elections around the world. * 2022 United Nations Security Council election * 2022 national electoral calendar * 2022 local e ...
. He ran under the
Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party (Filipino language, Filipino and Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish: ''Partido Nacionalista''; , NP) is a political party in the Philippines which is the oldest existing party in the country and in Southeast Asi ...
.


Controversies

In 2017, several corruption charges were filed against Ampatuan which is connected to his tenure as acting governor of Maguindanao from 2008 to 2009. Since March 2019, he has been convicted by the
Sandiganbayan The Sandiganbayan () is a special Appellate court, appellate collegial court in the Philippines that has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases involving Graft (politics), graft and corrupt practices and other offenses committed by public ...
at least seven times. * ''March 2019:'' Acting on the 75 corruption cases against provincial officials, filed by the
Ombudsman An ombudsman ( , also ) is a government employee who investigates and tries to resolve complaints, usually through recommendations (binding or not) or mediation. They are usually appointed by the government or by parliament (often with a sign ...
in 2017 in connection with the supposed purchase of construction materials in 2009 to repair school buildings in the province. He was convicted of 63 counts of falsification of public documents, but acquitted of 10 counts; and with former provincial engineer Datu Ali Abpi, were convicted of a count each of graft and of malversation. His total prison sentence ranged at 79–556 years; the two were also perpetually disqualified from holding public office. The conviction was affirmed in September. * ''October 2022:'' He was sentenced to 128–170 years of imprisonment for charges of graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents. He and former provincial budget officer Abpi were involved in the supposed procurement of food supplies in 2009 even though no such purchases were made. Both accused were sentenced to 6–8 years imprisonment for each of 4 counts of graft. They were then sentenced to ''
reclusión perpetua ( Spanish, from ) is a type of sentence of imprisonment in the Philippines, Argentina, and several other Spanish-speaking countries. Laws by region Philippines In the Philippines, it is one of two severe penalties, the other being life impri ...
'' for each of 3 counts of malversation of public funds, and perpetually disqualified to hold public office; while 14–18 years for the fourth count. Abpi was also convicted of another count of graft and malversation. * ''January 2023:'' In connection with several "ghost" road rehabilitation projects; eight counts each of graft and falsification of public documents, with a prison sentence of 64–112 years in total. He was also ordered arrested for his failure to attend on the promulgation of the decision. Five engineers were convicted of falsification charges as well. * ''February 2023:'' In connection to the "ghost" procurement of construction materials in 2009; the Ombudsman in 2017 filed 144 cases against him and Abpi, including falsification of public documents (136 counts), graft and malversation of public funds (4 counts each). He was convicted of 126 counts of falsification and all of other charges and was sentenced to 848–994 years in total. The latter, despite had reportedly died, was convicted of all charges and given a longer prison sentence. In April, the court, declaring the decision as final and executory, barred him from filing an appeal after his failure to appear in court during promulgation and to surrender in person. * ''March 2023:'' He was sentenced to ''reclusión perpetua'' for malversation of public funds and another 8–12 years for graft, over fake purchases of farm supplies in 2009. * ''May 2023:'' In connection with "ghost" purchases of emergency food supplies to a non-existent supplier in 2009. He and Abpi were sentenced to 6–10 years for graft and 10–18 years for malversation; while were acquitted in 34 counts of falsification. The cases against two co-defendants (also involved in three earlier cases) are archived since they were not arraigned; two others (among the three involved in two) had died. All living accused remain at large. * ''October 2024:'' Involving the public funds allocated to farm-to-market roads in Maguindanao which were unimplemented. He was given a prison sentence of up to 12 years for graft; and penalties of ''reclusión perpetua'' and perpetual disqualification to hold any public office for malversation of public funds.


Personal life

Ampatuan is married to Bai Zandria Sinsuat, who served as mayor of
Shariff Saydona Mustapha Shariff Saydona Mustapha, officially the Municipality of Shariff Saydona Mustapha ( Maguindanaon: ''Inged nu Shariff Saydona Mustapha''; Iranun: ''Inged a Shariff Saydona Mustapha''; ), is a municipality in the province of Maguindanao del Sur, Ph ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ampatuan, Sajid Governors of Maguindanao Mayors of places in Maguindanao Sajid United Nationalist Alliance politicians Nacionalista Party politicians Year of birth missing (living people) Living people