Maguindanao isn’t usually a place tourists would want to visit in the Philippines, and for good reason. It is home to bandits, rebel insurgency groups and warring political families, and on November 23, 2009, fifty seven people, including 31 journalists, were brutally killed by the Ampatuan clan as a result of Toto Mangudadatu’s attempt to wrest power from them.
The massacre is the country’ single worst case of election-related violence and the world’s worst single-day murder of media workers, making the Philippines one of the most dangerous countries for journalists to cover.
The victims:
- Genalyn “Gigi” Mangudadatu, 36, Toto Mangudadatu’s wife
- Eden Mangudadatu, 45, Toto’s sister and former vice mayor of the Mangudadatu municipality
- Farinah Mangudadatu-Hassan, 24, Toto’s pregnant sister
- Mamotabai Mangudadatu, 40, Toto’s aunt
- Wahida Kaliman Ante, 39, Toto’s aunt
- Rowena Mangudadatu-Ante, 33, Toto’s cousin
- Faridah Sabdullah Gaguil, 35, Toto’s cousin
- Suraida Gaguil Bernan, 36, Toto’s cousin
- Raida Abdul, 41, Toto’s cousin
- Atty. Concepcion “Connie” Brizuela-Jayme, 55, Toto’s lawyer
- Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon, 35, Toto’s lawyer
- Catalino Oquendo, 75, Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon’s father
- Pinky Balayman, 35, Toto’s supporter
- Lailani “Ella” Balayman, 25, Toto’s supporter
- Eugene Demillio Pamansag, 35, Toto’s supporter
- Abdillah Ayada, Toto’s supporter
- Rahima Palawan, 43, Toto’s supporter
- Meriam Calimbol, Toto’s supporter
- Norton “Sedick” Edza, 33, driver
- Razul Daud, 35, driver
- Gina De La Cruz-Carpenteros, 41, Saksi News correspondent
- Marife “Neneng” Montaño Cordova, 44, Saksi News and radio station DXCP correspondent
- Jepon Cadagdagon, 28, Saksi News photographer
- Maritess Cablitas, 38, Mindanao News Focus publisher and DXDX radio anchor
- Rosell Morales, 34, Mindanao News Focus circulation manager and correspondent
- Bienvenido “Jun” Legarta Jr., 36, Prontiera News publisher
- Joel Parcon, 50, Prontiera News correspondent
- Arturo “Art” Betia, Periodico Ini marketing director
- Rey Merisco, 34, Periodico Ini columnist
- Fernando “Ranny” Razon, 44, Periodico Ini sales manager
- Noel Decena, 25, Periodico Ini circulation manager
- John Caniban, 30, Periodico Ini and Sultan Kudarat Gazette correspondent
- Jose “Joy” Duhay, Mindanao Gold Star Daily correspondent
- Ronnie Perante, 43, Mindanao Gold Star Daily and Sultan Kudarat Gazette correspondent
- Rubello Bataluna, 44, Mindanao Gold Star Daily correspondent
- Benjie Adolfo, 20, Mindanao Gold Star Daily driver
- Victor Nuñez, 24, UNTV anchor
- Jolito Evardo, 27, UNTV cameraman
- Mac Delbert “Macmac” Arriola, 20, UNTV cameraman
- Daniel Tiamzon, 52, UNTV driver
- Santos “Jun” Gatchalian Jr., 51, Mindanao Daily Gazette reporter
- Lindo Lupogan, 42, Mindanao Daily Gazette publisher
- Eleanor “Leah” Dalmacio, 38, Soccsksargen News Today publisher and editor
- Francisco “Ian” Subang Jr., 49, Soccsksargen News Today publisher
- Romeo Jimmy “Pal-ak” Cabillo, 56, Tacurong Midland Review reporter
- Ernesto “Bart” Maravilla Jr., Bombo Radyo anchor and reporter
- Hannibal Cachuela, 51, Manila Star bureau chief and Punto News correspondent
- Andres “Andy” Teodoro, 59, Central Mindanao Inquirer editor-in-chief
- Napoleon “Nap” Salaysay, 57, Clear View Gazette publisher and editor
- Henry Araneta, 44, radio station DZRH Central Mindanao correspondent
- Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, 54, Manila Bulletin correspondent
- Anthony Ridao, National Statistics Coordination Board employee and son of Cotabato City councilor Marino Ridao
- Eduardo Lechonsito, 53, government employee from Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat
- Cecille Lechonsito, 52, Eduardo Lechonsito’s wife
- Mercy Palabrica, 32, Eduardo Lechonsito’s co-worker
- Daryll Vincent Delos Reyes, 28, Eduardo Lechonsito’s co-worker
- Wilhelm Palabrica, 43, Eduardo Lechonsito’s driver
The body of Reynaldo “Bobet” Momay, Tacurong Midland Review photographer, was never found despite Momay joining Toto’s convoy.
This episode is now exclusively available via Patreon. (Why?)
This episode’s companion photos: instagram.com/p/B6xtN22n1__
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maguindanao_massacre
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esmael_Mangudadatu
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andal_Ampatuan_Sr.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andal_Ampatuan_Jr.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaldy_Ampatuan
- International Federation of Journalists (2009) “Massacre in the Philippines: International Solidarity Mission Rapid Assessment,” https://www.ifj.org/fileadmin/user_upload/2009_Philippines.pdf
- https://www.inquirer.net/143183/tisoy-slightly-intensifies-signal-no-3-up-in-catanduanes-pagasa
- https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/ampatuan-massacre-a2212-20191218-lfrm2
- https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/311355/timeline-maguindanao-massacre
- https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/532971/timeline-maguindanao-massacre-2
- https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1202859/a-rundown-of-events-leading-to-the-dec-19-promulgation
- https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/12/19/maguindanao-ampatuan-massacre-verdict.html
- Journeyman Pictures: “Turning a Blind Eye,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dbvgyS6dms
- Amnesty International: “The Maguindanao Massacre,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oEQRtSuF34
- History Channel: “AETN and History Channel Asia’s The Maguindanao Massacre,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9U_69pCPps (part 1) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= TkH0cLGDV6o(part 2)
- Crime Klasik: “The Maguindanao Massacre,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5KsApe1oCg
- Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ): “Maguindanao: Isang Taon,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhbumGuxxu0
Music: “This House” and “Echoes of Time v2” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
(Photo above via mindanews.com)
