32 Journalists Killed In The Maguindanao Massacre In The Philippines In Today's History November 23, 2009

JAKARTA - On November 23, 2009, 58 people, including 32 journalists, were massacred in Ampatuan City, Maguindanao Province, Mindanao, Philippines. Their bodies and vehicles were buried together. The attack was the bloodiest political event and one of the worst mass killings of media workers in the world.

Citing CNN Philippines, the murder was carried out in broad daylight. The victim was a supporter of Esmael Mangudadatu who was on his way to submit his nomination form for Governor of Maguindanao.

Mangudadatu competed with Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr., also known as Unsay. Unsay at that time served as Mayor of Datu Unsay and the son of the Governor of Manguindanao, Andal Ampatuan, Sr.

The Ampatuan clan is known as a powerful warlord clan and the largest Muslim political clan in Mindanao. His family and private army are thought to consist of up to 5,000 members of the militia, police, and military personnel. They are often entangled in cases of murder, torture, sexual assault, kidnapping, and other cases of human rights violations. But their case was never revealed because of the many insiders they had.

Many people testified to seeing Unsay fully armed with members of his family guarding checkpoints in Ampatuan City. The unarmed passengers of the Mangudadatu convoy were taken to the hills of Sitio Masalay.

Unsay and his men then shot the victims using high-powered firearms. The memorandum filed by the prosecution in court stated that "Unsay competitively killed them".

A witness who is a resident of Sitio Malating named Akmad Esmael Abubakar admitted that he saw Unsay shoot a woman in the mouth. Another witness, Norodin Mauyag, said another woman was shot between the legs.

Unsay and his men fled the scene after receiving information that soldiers were en route to the area. Unsay then ordered his messengers who had ties to the provincial government to bury all the bodies and vehicles of the victims.

Behind the murder

Mangudadatu, also from the ruling political family in Mindanao, is running for governor of Maguindanao to end 20 years of rule by the Ampatuan clan. Witness testimony indicated that members of the Ampatuan clan met several times to plan the murder of Mangudadatu.

In his testimony, Mangudadatu said that Ampatuan had personally asked him at least twice to cancel his candidacy. The first was on 20 July 2009 during a meeting with the then Defense Minister Gilbert Teodoro.

Three weeks later, at dinner with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Ampatuan again tried to stop Mangudadatu's candidacy. However, Mangudadatu continued to refuse.

In December 2019, a Manila Court sentenced Unsay and several members of his family to life in prison. As many as 100 people were also found involved in the killings. Dozens of them were given light sentences while others were acquitted for lack of evidence.

*Read other information about TODAY's HISTORY or read other interesting articles from Putri Ainur Islam.

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