AMPATUAN (PHILIPPINES) - A POLITICIAN accused of masterminding an election-linked massacre that left 57 people dead surrendered to the authorities on Thursday but insisted he was innocent.

Andal Ampatuan Jr, a town mayor and member of a powerful pro-government clan, will be charged on Friday with multiple murders over the slaughter of an election caravan in the troubled southern Philippines, said chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zuno.