Maguindanao massacre
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
| Maguindanao massacre | |
|---|---|
 Map of the Philippines with Maguindanao highlighted | |
| Location | Mindanao, Philippines |
| Date | November 23, 2009 (UTC +8) |
| Target | Esmael Mangudadatu's family members, supporters, journalists |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Weapons | Small arms |
| Deaths | At least 57 |
| Injured | At least 4 |
The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan massacre (after the place where the mass graves were found), occurred on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. The victims were about to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town. Mangudadatu was challenging Andal S. Ampatuan, Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., in the forthcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial election,[1] part of the national elections in 2010. Those killed included Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, lawyers, aides, and several journalists.
As of November 25, the death toll had risen to 57, as confirmed by Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna of the Philippine National Police.[2][3][4] Reporters Without Borders announced that at least 12 of the victims were journalists, making this the deadliest such incident in the history of news media.[5] The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines estimates that a total of 20 journalists were killed, including an undisclosed number of NUJP members.[3] The Philippine Daily Inquirer later updated the number of journalists killed to 34.[6]
Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo responded to the news of the massacre by declaring a state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City.[4] Speaker of the House Prospero Nograles called on the police to quickly identify the perpetrators of the massacre and disarm private militias.[7] The Philippine Department of Justice created a panel of special prosecutors to handle cases arising from the massacre.[8]
In the aftermath, Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson said the massacre might affect, or even lead to the cancellation of, the scheduled 2010 presidential elections.[7] Candidates in the election condemned the massacre,[9] as did the European Union.[10]
On Wednesday, November 25, 2009, the executive committee of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD political party unanimously voted to expel three members of the Ampatuan family - Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his two sons, Gov. Zaldy Uy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. - from the party for their alleged role in the Maguindanao massacre.[11] An emergency meeting of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD was held in Pasig City, during which the Ampatuans were stripped of their membership.[11]
Victims
The convoy consisted of six vehicles.[12]
Mangudadatus
| Name | description |
|---|---|
| Genalyn Tiamson-Mangudadatu | wife of Esmael Mangudadatu |
| Eden Mangudadatu | Municipal Mayor of Mangudadatu, Maguindanao, sister of Esmael Mangudadatu |
| Rowena Mangudadatu | |
| Manguba Mangudadatu | aunt of Esmael Mangudadatu[13] |
| Faridah Sabdulah | [13] |
| Farida Mangudadatu | youngest sister of Esmael Mangudadatu[13] |
| Farina Mangudadatu | another sister of Esmael Mangudadatu |
| Concepcion “Connie” Brizuela | 56, lawyer[14] |
| Cynthia Oquendo | 35, lawyer |
| Toto Oquendo | Cynthia Oquendo's father |
| Rasul Daud | driver of Pax Mangudadatu [13] |
Journalists
Thirty-four journalists are known to have been abducted and killed in the massacre, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.[6] Only 25 have been positively identified so far.[6]
| Name | description |
|---|---|
| Henry Araneta | DZRH |
| Alejandro “Bong” Reblando[6] | Manila Bulletin correspondent [15] |
| Nap Salaysay | DZRO manager |
| Bart Maravilla | Bombo Radyo of Koronadal City[6] |
| Jhoy Dojay | Goldstar Daily[6] |
| Andy Teodoro | Mindanao Examiner & Central Mindanao Inquirer[6] |
| Ian Subang | Mindanao Focus, a General Santos City-based weekly community newspaper[6] |
| Leah Dalmacio | Mindanao Focus |
| Gina Dela Cruz | Mindanao Focus[6] |
| Maritess Cablitas | Mindanao Focus[6] |
| Neneng Montano | Saksi weekly newspaper[6] |
| Victor Nuñez | UNTV[6] |
| Macario "Macmac" Arriola | UNTV cameraman[6] |
| Humberto Mumay | Koronadal City-based journalist[6] |
| Rey Merisco | Koronadal City-based journalist[6] |
| Ronnie Perante | Koronadal City-based journalist[6] |
| Jun Legarta | Koronadal City-based journalist[6] |
| Val Cachuela | Koronadal City-based journalist[6] |
| Joel Parcon | freelance journalist |
| Noel Decena | freelance journalist |
| John Caniba | freelance journalist |
| Art Belia | freelance journalist |
| Ranie Razon | freelance journalist |
Red Toyota Vios
Number of casualties: 5. They were supposedly mistaken as part of the convoy. [16]
| Name | description |
|---|---|
| Eduardo Lechonsito | Tacurong City government employee |
| Cecille Lechonsito | wife of Eduardo Lechonsito |
| Mercy Palabrica | co-worker of Eduardo Lechonsito |
| Daryll delos Reyes | co-worker of Eduardo Lechonsito |
| Wilhelm Palabrica | driver |
References
- ^ Jimenez-David, Rina (November 24, 2009). "Understanding the unbelievable". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "5 more bodies uncovered in Philippine massacre". Associated Press. November 25, 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/25/09/maguindanao-massacre-toll-47
- ^ a b Aie Balagtas See (2009-11-24). "Maguindanao killing field death toll rises to 46 – AFP". GMANews.TV. GMA Network. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
- ^ "Twelve journalists killed on Mindanao island in "dark day for press freedom"". Press Freedom Index. Reporters without Borders. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Zonio, Aquilies (2009-11-24). "Inquirer man recounts harrowing tales of survival". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
- ^ a b Porcalla, Delon (November 25, 2009). "Authorities urged to identify perpetrators of Maguindanao massacre". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "DOJ creates panel on Maguindanao massacre". ABS-CBN News. November 24, 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "2010 presidential bets condemn massacre". Manila Bulletin. November 24, 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "EU condemns 'barbaric' Philippines massacre". Canwest News Service. November 24, 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ a b Zonio, Aquilies (2009-11-25). "3 Ampatuans expelled from admin party". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
- ^ "Arroyo vows justice as massacre toll hits 57". Inquirer.net. November 25, 2009.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Text "http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20091125-238296/Arroyo-vows-justice-as-massacre-toll-hits-57" ignored (help) - ^ a b c d "List of victims in Maguindanao massacre".
- ^ "Slain lawyers among most ardent peace advocates in Mindanao".
- ^ http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/?p=5122
- ^ "Innocent motorists among massacre victims in Ampatuan". GMANews.tv. November 25, 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.