The Ampatuan Massacre: A Decade-Long Fight For Justice

I.Introduction

Title of article: Countdown: Justice for Ampatuan Massacre: Summary of Case Trial

The Maguindanao, also known as the Ampatuan Massacre, named after the town where mass
graves of victims were found that occurred in November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan in
Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. The 58 victims were on
their way to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan, when
they were kidnapped and later killed. Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay Mayor Andal
Ampatuan Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and member of
Mindanao leading Muslim political clans, in the fourth coming Maguindanao gubernational
election, part of the national elections in 2010. The people killed included Mangudadatu’s wife,
his two sisters journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witness or were mistakenly
identified as part of the convoy.

II.Summary

Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu invited 37 journalists to cover the scheduled
filing of his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
provincial office in Sharriff Aguak. He said reports had reached him that his rivals had
threatened to chop him into pieces once he filed his COC, and felt the presence of journalists
would deter such an attack. Before reaching their destination, the convoy was stopped by 100
armed men, who abducted and later killed most or all of its members. There is evidence that at
least five of the female victims, four of them are journalists, were raped before being killed,
while practically all of the women had been shot in their genitals. Mangudadatu’s youngest sister
and aunt were both pregnant at the time of their murders. A backhoe located in the immediate
vicinity of the carnage at Ampatuan town was identified as the instrument that was used to dig
the graves of the victims two days beforehand, and then bury them, including the vehicles. The
perpetrators were not able to complete the job when a helicopter was spotted in the area. The
backhoe, emblazoned with the name of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., was later
identified belong to the provincial government. Judgment day by the court comes for the 197
accused of multiple murders of 58 persons, including 32 journalists and media workers. For 10
years, the widows and orphans of those killed had longed for justice.

The case called the attention of the press organizations in the Philippines and of international
media groups. The killings that occurred on November 23, 2009 were described as the “deadliest
strike against the press in history.” The massacre underscored the dangers to journalists in the
Philippines, as advocates for press freedom and justice have focused on the months and years of
trial. The press community has worked hard to keep the case alive on the news agenda. But the
crime, the trial, and its outcome are the concern, not only of journalists and the families of the
victims. It should be understood by every Filipino as an example of the use of violence as an
instrument of politics. It is the same political arena that generates much of the news reported by
journalists to the public.

III.Analysis

The view of the author justifies the long trial and presented the real justice system of the
Philippines which is very slow, even the defense are guilty and very obvious with the lot of
evidences presented, they filed numerous motions which added months and years to the process.
The impediment to human act is concupiscence consequent because the people involved in
planning and killing knew that it is brutal but continue to do so because of the struggle of power.
They use their political power in their own good which is bad in the eye of the law and especially
in the eye of God. The moral responsibility of the killers will increase because they consciously
execute their plan. To those on side of the killers, they will also be responsible for the massacre
like President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo because she is the president on that time and there are
rumors that she is on side of the sinners receiving money in delaying the hearing.

The lessons of the trial belong to the people so thus can empower them to end impunity, to
change the culture of politics and course of our national history. For the victims, the decision
should allow them finally to rest in peace, grant their loved ones a measure of justice, and with it,
comfort and consolation after their long wait.

IV.Conclusion

The lessons of the trial belong to the people so thus can empower them to end impunity, to
change the culture of politics and course of our national history. Some of the defendants are
already behind the bars. Hopefully, the justice system of Philippines will have a progress for the
betterment of the nation. To the future citizens of our country, the youth, should make a stand
and have a strong faith so that this kind of situations will never be repeated again. The for the
victims, the decision should allow them finally to rest in peace, grant their loved ones a measure
of justice, and with it, comfort and consolation after their long wait.

References: Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Maguindanao Massacre-Wikipedia

Shayne Anne Louise O. Fernandez