'MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE: The Four Critical Days' By Secy. Jesus Dureza

Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jnr and Presidential Adviser Secy. Jesus Dureza and Justice Secy. Agnes Devanadera in General Santos City after the politician surrendered peacefully.

A Recollection of Those Four Critical Days.

DAY ONE - November 23 (Monday)

I was monitoring closely reports about a missing convoy in Maguindanao with media friends. Later in the day, reports of mass murder of the Mangudadatus were confirmed. Allegedly by Datu Unsay Ampatuan Jr., et al. My instincts told me this could very well be a very explosive situation. When media called, I said I would recommend proclaiming a state of emergency. At 8 p.m. Secretary of National Defense Bert Gonzales and I met. He told me the President had directed that I act as “crisis manager.”

DAY TWO – November 24 (Tuesday)

Bert and I took the earliest flight to General Santos City. At the headquarters of the 601st Infantry Brigade in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat briefings were held. Initial photos of the carnage were flashed on the screen. Gruesome! Next we met with the Mangudadatus, many of them my personal friends.

They were tense and angry. They wanted to retrieve the bodies immediately. They demanded justice, immediately. The Ampatuans did it, they said. After Bert and I expressed government’s resolve to do everything possible, Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu said they will cooperate. No retaliatory action but government must give justice.

12 Noon – A teleconferencing call connected Bert and me to the Palace where the President was presiding over a hastily called security meeting. We were getting specific instructions from her. So did Bert, Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza and Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang who arrived with us. Her voice had that sense of urgency. Inputs from the other cabinet members were also relayed.

1:00 p.m. – The crisis management committee was activated. Assisting me were Eastern Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer and Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Chief Supt. Felizardo Serapio.

2:00 p.m. – Bert left to fly back to Manila. Colonel Medardo Geslani, 60ast infantry Brigade commander, assisted in setting up the command center. It was at this time that I operationalized an action plan I quietly formulated in my mind. It was a simple plan drawing lessons from past experiences.

3:00 p.m. – Having talked with the Mangudadatus, I decided to go see the Ampatuans in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao. I felt confident. Both families were my friends. And I had direct access to them. With my staff and without military escorts, except for one military officer, Colonel Macario as guide, I motored to the Ampatuan residence.

3:45 p.m. - I entered the Ampatuan fenced premises and the patriarch Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Snr was there waiting for me. With him seated in a “bahay kubo” on the sprawling grounds were several Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Maguindanao officials and relatives. Armed followers were everywhere.

After informing Gov. Andal that my purpose in coming was because of the incident and that his son, Mayor Datu Unsay Ampatuan Jr. was implicated, I told Bapa Andal that it would be best that the Ampatuans also cooperate.

I said that Datu Unsay should submit to an investigation. He immediately said: “OK. Kausapin mo sya. Ipatawag ko si Datu Unsay. Basta kayo Secretary walang problema.” I told him I wanted to see Datu Unsay as I got reports that he was missing or had escaped. Bapa said: “Hindi yan totoo. Darating si Datu Unsay. Magpakita sya sayo Secretary.”

Bapa Andal as usual, was a man of few words. We then went inside the house to wait for the son’s arrival. In the meantime, ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Cong. Didagen Dilangalen arrived from the airport. Energy Undersecretary Zam Ampatuan, Atty. Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, among others were there too. I felt a bit tense and uncomfortable. I did not want to start talking about the incident until Unsay would arrive. We were chatting for about an hour trying to divert the issue and loosen up. A lively conversation centered on how many children some of their relatives had. One relative had 70 children. Of course from several mothers, etc.

4:30 p.m. – We waited. I noticed that Atty. Cynthia was using her cell phone and taking pictures while we were chatting. Unsay arrived and got seated on my left. We continued a bit about our light banter until Unsay settled down. (GMA7 later that same evening showed some pictures on TV. My wife Beth texted me and called my attention immediately when she saw it: “Bakit ka smile kasama mga Ampatuan. Not proper.” I agreed. But I was puzzled where the pictures came from and who sent them. There were no media people around. I surmised Cynthia did it.)

5:00 p.m. – I was becoming worried that darkness would overtake my return trip to Sultan Kudarat province. Many armed and uniformed men on the highway. One could not tell what group or unit. So when Unsay got seated, I immediately told him that I came because of the serious incident and that initial reports mentioned his name as involved. I told him my purpose in coming was only to be assured that he would cooperate and submit himself to any investigation. He looked at the direction of Gov. Andal who spoke first: “Gaya ng sinabi ko sayo kanina, magcooperate kami, Secretary.” Then Unsay himself echoed saying: “Mag cooperate po kami Secretary.” I then stood up and said I would contact them again soon. We arrived in Marbel town already dark and stayed there for the night.

DAY THREE - November 25 (Wednesday)

8:30 a.m. - I visited a funeral parlor in Marbel. Some bodies not identified yet. I then directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 12 to attend to the immediate needs of the families, and that Department of Health Region 12 and Office of the Civil Defense Region 12 were to assist. I motored to Tacurong at the 601st Infantry Brigade and met the National Bureau of Investigation team that just arrived from Manila.

I reconvened the crisis committee and mapped up moves on how to fast track work. A team of Philippine National Police investigators were sent to the residence of Buluan Vice Mayor Toto Mangudadatu to get statements but they were told that affidavits of their witnesses would be submitted instead perhaps the following day. I was already aware that the outrage over the killings mounted. And government was being criticized for slow action.

12 NOON – Over lunch at the brigade, I consulted with the crisis committee on my plan: it was time to contact the Ampatuans and call in Datu Unsay to voluntarily surrender as they committed to me yesterday. I was also quietly informed that an operational plan was underway to forcibly take custody of him.

2:00 p.m. – On my way to Marbel to dialogue with all the families of the victims, I made several calls. First with ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. I told him it was time to bring in Datu Unsay. He told me he would consult the father, Gov. Andal. I said I had only until 5 p.m. that day to work on this plan. After 5 p.m., the scenario would no longer be the same, I told him.

4:00 p.m. – While meeting the families of victims in downtown Marbel, I got a call from the father, Gov. Andal telling me that he would turnover to me Datu Unsay but requested that the deadline be moved from 5 p.m. today to 10 a.m. the following day. I immediately told him I could not guarantee things if the deadline was moved. He said the Ampatuan clan would meet that evening and discussed things and bid goodbye to Datu Unsay. I told him I would get back to him by phone. I made calls and informed some of my colleagues (with whom I had been consulting from the beginning) of the request.

There were objections. Understandable reservations: What if the extension was a ruse to escape that evening? What were the guarantees that he would voluntarily surrender during the new deadline? People were becoming outraged not only on the crime but on the perceived slowness of government, so why waste more time? The forces were ready to strike, so why delay?

But I also reasoned back: How sure are we that we would get Datu Unsay in the operations? (From yesterday’s visit to the Ampatuans, I was certain that he was not there in the immediate vicinity, but came from somewhere far.) An assault would surely cost lives knowing the armaments, the culture and the situation. People were crying for swift action, but I would not agree to precipitate action. I also said I believed Gov. Andal was sincere when he told me he would bring out his son when needed. To wrap up my point, I said: I would take full responsibility for whatever outcome.

My new timeline was adopted. I moved the deadline to 10:00 a.m. the following day.

That night, we reviewed the “pickup” scenario several times and mapped out contingencies just in case things would not go as planned. In the meantime, government troops moved according to operational plans. That evening, I got a call from Atty. Cynthia getting an assurance from me that nothing would be launched that evening until the 10 a.m. pickup time the following day. I told her if there were troop movements, these were in support of the 10 a.m. “pickup.”

Later in the night, another complication suddenly arose. Chief Supt. Serapio and Col. Geslani informed me that they got information that Toto Mangudadatu would motor with his followers to file his certificate of candidacy the following morning in Shariff Aguak. I immediately called Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu. I told him that there was something afoot the following morning and that without disclosing what it was all about, I requested if he could convince Toto to move his filing to another day. A few minutes later, Gov. Teng called and said the clan agreed.

D-DAY, Nov.26 (Thursday)

6:00 a.m. - Early morning, government forces took over and occupied the ARMM facilities and other buildings and premises in Maguindanao province. Armed elements loyal to the Ampatuans were taken by surprise and gave up their firearms without resistance.

I was nervous a bit, but confident. The “what if” scenarios kept popping up in my mind. I motored to the 601st Infantry Brigade for the final briefings. The choppers would pick me up from there. Gen. Ferrer and I watched as more newly arrived troops were jumping off towards designated areas.

9:00 a.m. – I was informed that something went wrong with the Philippine Air Force Huey helicopters coming from Cotabato. The Davao choppers were instead dispatched, but would not be able to arrive by 10 a.m.

9:55 a.m. – I got a call from Col. Geslani whom we tasked to liaison with the Ampatuans that they were requesting for a little time as they were waiting for their lawyer who was still on the road to arrive. That was a break I needed. The 2 choppers arrived. We discussed with the pilot and crew contingencies and procedures.

10:45 a.m. - We were ready to jump off upon cue from Col. Geslani. It would be a short 35 minute hop from the brigade to Shariff Aguak. My staff Cecil said she’s getting nervous but insisted on joining. My assistant, Yo, was busy texting. But wait, another problem suddenly cropped up. As we were boarding, one the 2 Philippine National Police officers tasked to escort the suspect said they could not use the handcuff on Ampatuan as the KEY WAS MISSING!

What about the other handcuff with your buddy, I asked. “Ganon din po sir”, he replied. I almost fell from my seat! But there was no more time. We then agreed that he would be strapped with the seat belt and the policemen would firmly clasp the buckles to prevent any unexpected situation while airborne. (When I was asked later by reporters why Ampatuan was not handcuffed, I had a ready curt answer with a straight face: “He is adequately restrained!” Secy. Agnes Devanadera promptly responded with the same line when she was asked upon landing in Manila.)

11:20 a.m. - Two Hueys landed on the Maguindanao province capitol grounds. The Huey engines were not shut off as agreed in case a sudden exit maneuver was necessary. I waited for 20 minutes on the ground. I was getting worried. Finally, I saw my staff, Ollie, with his thumbs up sign.

Col. Geslani signaled they were on their way. My “what if” scare disappeared. The capitol gates opened. The Ampatuan family arrived on board vehicles from another location nearby. Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan clasping my hand said: “Ipaubaya ni amah si Datu Unsay sa iyo” and turned over Datu Unsay to me. We boarded the aircraft with Atty. Cynthia, insisting she had to ride with him.

11:40 a.m. - Helis took off enroute General Santos City where Justice Secy. Agnes Devanadera and her crew were waiting for an inquest proceeding. But again something happened. About a few minutes airborne and while still climbing and gaining altitude, I first noticed some flapping sound outside. I thought, maybe some loose parts of the chopper. The noise kept coming, intermittent. I looked down and maybe I saw flashes but I was not sure. Suddenly the Huey banked sharply to the right and simultaneously, several short bursts from our two Huey gunners at the back. The bursts startled all of us. The evasive maneuver by the pilot also jarred us. All of us kept our heads low as the Huey steeply climbed. My staff Jerry and Col. Mac who was seated beside the open Huey doors ducked. The soldier at the back shouted, “ground fire, sir.”

We still climbed. The flapping sound from outside could not be heard anymore. The gunners later told me ground fire sounded like flapping from the air. The evasive action and the machinegun bursts were Standard Operating Procedures. At 2,000 feet altitude, we cruised. That’s when I saw on the Huey floor an empty shell from the bursts of the M-60 machinegun on board. I picked up the empty shell, and then pocketed it for good luck.

At the Gensan airport, I called the Boss: “Mission accomplished, Mrs. President.”

(Dureza had successfully handled past crises situations notably the “detention” by Moro National Liberation Front rebel leader Habier Malik of Marine Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Ramon Santos in Sulu province in 2007; the handover of MNLF chieftain Nur Misuari from Malaysian authorities to face rebellion charges in 2002; the surrender of convicted priest-killer escapee Norberto Manero in 2001; the release of Army Gen. Victor Obillo and Capt. Eduardo Montealto by New People’s Army rebel leader Commander Leoncio “Parago” Pitao with the Capalla humanitarian team in 1999; the Cebu Pacific plane crash in Misamis Oriental province in 1998; the Mindanao El Nino crisis in 1998; the Davao Penal Colony hostage situation in 1998. Ed)

After massacre, witness surfaces and implicates scion of powerful political clan in Mindanao

A government photo shows Presidential Adviser for Mindanao, Jesus Dureza, presents Mayor Datu Unsay Andal Ampatuan, Jr. to Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera upon arrival at the General Santos City airport. Ampatuan, who is accused of masterminding the killings of 57 people, mostly supporters of his political rival and journalists, surrendered Thursday, November 26, 2009 to Dureza in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao province to answer accusations against him. (Mindanao Examiner)

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / November 26, 2009) – An alleged witness to the brutal killings of 57 political campaigners and journalists has surfaced in the southern Philippines and implicated a scion of a powerful Muslim clan as behind the crime, Al Jazeera TV reported on Thursday.

It said the man who claimed to have witnessed Monday’s carnage in Maguindanao province told Al Jazeera how he was ordered to kill members of a rival political clan -including women and children - and to make sure no evidence was left behind.

Below was the story filed by Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas, who traveled to the southern Philippines to cover the aftermath of the killings in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

The report can be accessed on this URL: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/11/2009112654959580381.html.

“The witness, who identified himself only as "Boy", said he was among more than 100 armed men who held up a convoy of political campaigners and journalists before taking them to a remote mountainous area where they were then killed.

Speaking to Al Jazeera's correspondent Marga Ortigas, "Boy" said the orders had come directly from Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local mayor and a member of a politically powerful local with close ties to the Philippines president.

"Datu Andal himself said, he said to us: anyone from the Mangudadatu clan - women or children - should be killed... We don't ask why, we just followed orders."

At least 57 people died in the massacre, believed to be the worst ever politically-related killings in the Philippines.

"Boy", who is now in hiding fearing his life is in danger, said all of the women in the group had been raped before being killed.

Their bodies were then dumped in mass graves that had already been dug out in advance using an excavator.

He said that Ampatuan Jr had also ordered that the reporters accompanying the convoy should also be killed to cover-up what had happened.
"That too was ordered by Datu Andal… because they didn't want any evidence left behind," he said.

"Boy" said the whole process had lasted little more than an hour before the gunmen had to abruptly abandon the scene following a warning that members of the military were nearby.

"We didn't get to finish, which is why the excavator was left there," he said. Someone called and said soldiers were on their way. I feel they have connections among the soldiers."

Speaking with his face covered to his identity, "Boy" said he was supposed to have been an active participant in the massacre but did not actually kill any of the victims.

He said he would have been shot if he had tried to intervene. "I was just standing there," he said "I was all alone… I could only leave it up to my conscience."

The Al Jazeera report cannot be independently confirmed and security officials would not talk about the allegations. And there was no immediate statement from the Ampatuan clan about the report, but the young Ampatuan surrendered to Presidential assistant for Mindanao affairs, Jesus Dureza, on Thursday and was brought to General Santos City before heading to Manila for more investigations about the accusations against him. (Mindanao Examiner)

Saksi sa Maguindanao Massacre lumutang, itinurong utak si Ampatuan Jr., ayon sa Al-Jazeera TV

MAGUINDANAO (Mindanao Examiner / November 26, 2009) – Isa umanong saksi sa malagim na pagpatay sa 57 katao sa Maguindanao ang lumabas matapos na makunsenya sa tinaguriang Maguindanao Massacre.

Sa ekslusibong panayam ng Al-Jazeera TV ay isinalaysay ng saksi kung paanong pinatay ng walang awa ang mga journalists at pag-rape sa lahat ng babaeng kasama sa mahigit na 60 katao sa election convoy nuong nakaraang Lunes sa bayan ng Shariff Aguak sa Maguindanao province.

Ang mga journalists ay sumama sa grupo ng asawa at kapatid at supporters ni Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu upang maghain ng certificate of candidacy nito sa kanyang pagtakbo sa pagka-gobernador sa Maguindanao laban kay Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., na anak ng kasalukuyang gobernador at kapatid ni Zaldy Ampatuan, ang gobernador ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Sinabi ni Boy, hindi tunay niyang pangalan, na mismong si Andal Ampatuan Jr. ang diumano’y nag-utos na patayin lahat ang nasa convoy, pati na rin ang mga journalists upang itago ang krimen.

Sa ulat ni Marga Ortigas ng Al-Jazeera TV ay sinabi umano ni Boy na kasama siya sa mahigit 100 armadong tagasunod ni Ampatuan at nakita kung paanong pinatay at hinalay ang mga babae, kasama na ang asawa ni Mangudadatu, kapatid at hipag, at gayun rin ang mga babaeng journalists.

Nasa Maguindanao ang crew ni Ortigas at sa kanyang ulat ay inamin diumano ni Boy na si Andal Ampatuan Jr. ang nagbigay ng order na patayin at walang ititirang buhay sa grupo ng mga Mangudadatu.

“Datu Andal himself said, he said to us: anyone from the Mangudadatu clan - women or children - should be killed... We don't ask why, we just followed orders," ani ng Al-Jazeera sa website nitong: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/11/2009112654959580381.html

Sa mahigit na 60 mga pinatay ay tinatayang 34 ang mga journalists, dalawang human rights lawyers at kapamilya at supporters ni Mangudadatu.

Nagtatago na rin umano si Boy dahil sa takot na mapatay dahil sa kanyang nalalaman.

“Boy, who is now in hiding fearing his life is in danger, said all of the women in the group had been raped before being killed. Their bodies were then dumped in mass graves that had already been dug out in advance using an excavator.”

“He said that Ampatuan Jr had also ordered that the reporters accompanying the convoy should also be killed to cover-up what had happened. That too was ordered by Datu Andal… because they didn't want any evidence left behind,” ani ng ulat.

Sinabi pa ni Boy na nagtagal ng mahigit sa isang oras ang massacre at hindi nailibing ang lahat ng mga bangkay dahil may nagsumbong umano sa kanila na may paparating ng sundalo ng militar sa kanilang lugar kung kaya’t naiwan doon sa bayan ng Ampatuan, na kung saan pinatay ang grupo, ang backhoe na ginamit sa paglilibing ng ibang mga katawan at tatlong sasakyan.



“Boy said the whole process had lasted little more than an hour before the gunmen had to abruptly abandon the scene following a warning that members of the military were nearby. We didn't get to finish, which is why the excavator was left there, he said.”

“Someone called and said soldiers were on their way. I feel they have connections among the soldiers,” ayon pa kay Boy sa ulat ng Al-Jazeera.

“Speaking with his face covered to his identity, Boy said he was supposed to have been an active participant in the massacre but did not actually kill any of the victims. He said he would have been shot if he had tried to intervene. I was just standing there. I was all alone… I could only leave it up to my conscience," pangwakas pa ng saksi.

Hindi naman agad makumpirma ang ulat ng international TV network at walang opisyal na gustong magbigay ng pahayag ukol dito. Hindi rin agad makunan ng pahayag ang Ampatuan clan, ngunit kahapon ay sumuko na rin si Andal Ampatuan Jr. at dinala ito sa Maynila na kung saan ay sinampahan diumano ito ng multiple murder charges. (Mindanao Examiner)

Arroyo ally linked to Maguindanao massacre surrenders; more troops deployed to hunt down killers

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / November 26, 2009) – Police on Thursday took a scion of one of the Philippines’ most powerful clan who was accused of masterminding the massacre of 57 people, mostly journalists and supporters of a rival clan in restive region of Mindanao.

Philippine police chief Jesus Verzosa said Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jnr. was brought to General Santos City by helicopter and would be flown to Manila where he will be investigated for his role in Monday’s brutal killings.

“Mayor Ampatuan is considered a suspect and will be flown to Manila for investigation,” he said.

President Gloria Arroyo’s assistant, Jesus Dureza, accompanied Ampatuan after convincing his family to peacefully surrender the politician, blamed for the killing of the wife and relatives, and supporters of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, and at least 34 journalists who were to cover the filing of his nomination for the gubernatorial elections next year.

Ampatuan is also running as governor of Maguindanao, a position currently being held by his father Andal Ampatuan Snr., a key political ally of President Gloria Arroyo. His elder brother Zaldy Ampatuan is the governor of the Muslim autonomous region to which Maguindanao and four other provinces belong.

Interior Secy. Ronaldo Puno said security forces have taken over the provincial capitol building of Maguindanao and the municipal halls of Shariff Aguak and Ampatuan.

“The joint groups of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces took critical control of the capitol building of the province of Maguindanao and the municipal halls of Shariff Aguak and Ampatuan,” he said.

He said 347 government militias under the control of the Ampatuan clan were also disarmed and being investigated for their possible links to the brutal murders. Police also arrested at least 20 suspects and are also under interrogation.

“The investigation of the incident is being conducted in earnest and that those responsible will be held to account regardless of who they are,” Puno said.

Puno said the hunt for the other suspects still continues. He said had Ampatuan declined to surrender, security forces would take all actions and exert physical force to take the politician and bring him to Manila to face investigation.

Army Lieutenant General Rodrigo Maclang, the Armed Forces’ deputy chief, said hundreds of troops, including members of the Special Forces, the Scout Ranger, and two mechanized battalions, were deployed Thursday in Maguindanao to help hunt down those who participated in the killings.

The military earlier this week deployed about a thousand foot soldiers to track down the suspects in the massacre. Of the 57 killed, at least 22 are believed to be journalists. They were part of more than 60 people in an election convoy held and later killed by gunmen said to be armed followers of Ampatuan clan.

A passing civilian car and a government vehicle were also stopped by the gunmen in Shariff Aguak and also killed four passengers they thought were also supporters of Mangudadatu, whose wife and relatives were believed raped and executed.

Mangudadatu said his sister and an aunt had both been pregnant and not spared by the killers, whom he called “monsters.”

“My wife’s private parts were slashed four times, after which they fired a bullet into it,” a news report quoted the vice mayor as saying. “They speared both of her eyes, shot both her breasts, cut off her feet, fired into her mouth. I could not begin to describe the manner by which they treated her.” (Mindanao Examiner)

More bodies, vehicles retrieved from Maguindanao graves in southern Philippines

Family and friends pay their last respect to one of two lawyers Concepcion Brizuela killed in Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines after her remains are brought to Kidapawan City on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. The Union of Peoples' Lawyers in Mindanao condemned the brutalkillings of Concepcion Brizuela and Cynthia Oquendo, both members of the group, and journalists and innocent civilians. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Geo Solmerano).

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / November 25, 2009) – Police retrieved more bodies on Wednesday in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao as the search for slain journalists and civilians continued the past 3 days.

Police pulled out two cars and a media van buried in a pit and covered with earth on a remote village in the town of Ampatuan.

Security forces have so far recovered 52 corpses, including at least 13 journalists, since Monday after more than 100 gunmen allegedly led by a town mayor, Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., abducted and killed more than 60 people.

Most of the victims were supporters of Ampatuan’s political opponent, Buluan town vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, and journalists who joined the group to cover the filing of his nomination for the gubernatorial election next year.

Ampatuan is also eyeing the gubernatorial post which is being held by his father, Andal Ampatuan, a key ally of President Gloria Arroyo, including his son, Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, the current governor of the Muslim autonomous region to where Maguindanao province belongs.

One of three journalists, who were supposed to cover the filing of Mangudadatu’s nomination but had been left behind, said the massacre could have been prevented only if the military provided security to group.

“Before the group headed for Maguindanao, we asked the military – the 6th Infantry Division - if it was safe to travel and its commander said it was okay. We asked them for security escorts, but they said it was the job of the police. The troops only arrived hours after the massacre despite the reports that the journalists and the others were being held by more than one hundred gunmen in Maguindanao,” the journalists told the independent newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.

He said at least 34 journalists were in the group. But an army spokesman, Colonel Jonathan Ponce, said the military cannot provide escorts to politicians, but the police because the law prohibits them from doing so during election period.

“The army pulled out one battalion of soldiers last week and deployed them to other areas, leaving them with not enough force to guard the province against possible rebel attacks,” Ponce said.

Among those killed and probably raped were the wife of Mangudadatu and her two pregnant sisters. Mangudadatu said the killings would not deter him from running in the gubernatorial election in May.

Mangudadatu’s elder brother Ibrahim Mangudadatu, who is the mayor of Buluan town, said the total number of bodies recovered in the area has risen to 49 and they are still for more corpses as other reports claimed that more than 60 people had been killed.

“As of now, the total number of bodies recovered is 49. Two bodies were recovered today inside a car and a van of UNTV buried in the village in Ampatuan town,” the mayor said.

But the military said the number has risen to 52.

It was unknown whether the two were journalists or not, but President Arroyo put Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces under a state of emergency to prevent retaliation and more bloodshed, but authorities have so far not arrested any of those linked to the gruesome murders.

The elder Mangudadatu said they have allowed an autopsy in the bodies oh his brother’s wife and sisters who were probably raped by their attackers. “We are leaving everything to (forensic) investigators until they get all the pieces of evidence they need. The outcome of these investigations is important,” he said.

He said the backhoe used in burying the victims and the two vehicles is owned by the Maguindanao provincial government. The mayor said the Ampatuan linked to the carnage have not been investigated.

“We hope they would get him (Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr.) soon,” Mangudadatu said.

The powerful Ampatuan clan was also linked by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in previous violence in the region.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines branded the killings of journalists as barbaric and condemned the murders.

The European Union also condemned the killings. "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the barbaric killing on 23 November 2009 of innocent civilians, including women, journalists and lawyers, who were preparing to participate in the electoral process in the Philippines," EU external relations commissioner Benita Waldner said.

The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines on Wednesday condemned the killings and called it “barbaric mass murder of defenseless civilians - including more than a dozen journalists.”

“We condole with the families of the murdered journalists, some of whom FOCAP members had occasion to work with in the past. These courageous media personnel were only doing their job to report crucial political developments in Mindanao and should not have been directly targeted by any partisan armed groups.”

“Their systematic and calculated killings are a direct affront to democratic principles,
and aim to strike fear and to muzzle free, fearless and balanced reporting,” it said.

FOCAP said the killings was the heaviest loss of lives for the Philippine media, possibly in the whole world, in a single day and comes on the heels of a series of many unsolved killings of Filipino journalists in recent years.

“The brutal, brazen and cold-blooded manner in which the victims were abducted in public then shot point blank shatters all sense of civility and concretely puts into question the capability of local authorities to protect ordinary civilians, including working journalists. The murderers have flourished in their territories and certainly felt they were above the law. It is a chilling prelude to the crucial 2010 presidential, congressional and local elections and erodes the public's sense of security and confidence on law enforcers,” the FOCAP further said. (Mindanao Examiner)

1 killed, 3 wounded in roadside bombings in Mindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 15, 2009) – Three homemade bombs exploded on Friday and killed a pro-government militia and wounded three others in the restive province of Maguindanao in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the target of the bombings was the provincial governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. He was set to visit a village in Shariff Aguak town at the time of the attacks.

The bombs, assembled from 81mm mortar shells and connected to cell phones, exploded seconds apart on a road where Ampatuan’s convoy was to pass, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, a spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

“The bombs were intended to Governor Ampatuan. He was the real target of the bombings, but the IEDs exploded before his convoy could pass the area,” he said.

Ponce blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels for the failed slay attempt on the life of Ampatuan. “Who else would do that except the rebels,” he said.

There was no statement from Ampatuan, whose brother Datu Zaldy Ampatuan is the governor of the five-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Their father, Datu Andal Ampatuan, is a political ally of President Gloria Arroyo, and is one of the most influential in the Muslim autonomous region to which Maguindanao belongs.

The MILF has denied any involvement in the attack, saying, it could be related to clan war of family feud and may even be connected to politics.

“The Ampatuans have many enemies. The attacks could be related to a feud or even politics. We have nothing to do with the bombings,” said Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader.

The elder Ampatuan also survived several assassination attempts since 2001. In 2006, he was ambushed and survived in Shariff Aguak town after a roadside bomb was detonated near the politician's convoy and authorities blamed the attack to a senior MILF leader, Zaid Pakiladatu, who denied the accusation.

But Pakiladatu's wife was also killed in an ambush in Cotabato City several weeks later after the bombing.

Ampatuan’s son Hoffer was killed during a shoot out at a party in Cotabato City 2002. His brother, Saudi Ampatuan, a town mayor, was also killed in a bomb attack in Maguindanao’s Datu Piang town also in 2002. (Mindanao Examiner)