The Maguindanao Massacre (2009)

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:

1. Genalyn “Gigi” Mangudadatu, 36, Toto Mangudadatu’s wife
2. Eden Mangudadatu, 45, Toto’s sister and former vice mayor of the Mangudadatu municipality
3. Farinah Mangudadatu-Hassan, 24, Toto’s pregnant sister
4. Mamotabai Mangudadatu, 40, Toto’s aunt
5. Wahida Kaliman Ante, 39, Toto’s aunt
6. Rowena Mangudadatu-Ante, 33, Toto’s cousin
7. Faridah Sabdullah Gaguil, 35, Toto’s cousin
8. Suraida Gaguil Bernan, 36, Toto’s cousin
9. Raida Abdul, 41, Toto’s cousin
10. Atty. Concepcion “Connie” Brizuela-Jayme, 55, Toto’s lawyer
11. Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon, 35, Toto’s lawyer
12. Catalino Oquendo, 75, Atty. Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon’s father
13. Pinky Balayman, 35, Toto’s supporter
14. Lailani “Ella” Balayman, 25, Toto’s supporter
15. Eugene Demillio Pamansag, 35, Toto’s supporter
16. Abdillah Ayada, Toto’s supporter
17. Rahima Palawan, 43, Toto’s supporter
18. Meriam Calimbol, Toto’s supporter
19. Norton “Sedick” Edza, 33, driver
20. Razul Daud, 35, driver
21. Gina De La Cruz-Carpenteros, 41, Saksi News correspondent
22. Marife “Neneng” Montaño Cordova, 44, Saksi News and radio station DXCP correspondent
23. Jepon Cadagdagon, 28, Saksi News photographer
24. Maritess Cablitas, 38, Mindanao News Focus publisher and DXDX radio anchor
25. Rosell Morales, 34, Mindanao News Focus circulation manager and correspondent
26. Bienvenido “Jun” Legarta Jr., 36, Prontiera News publisher
27. Joel Parcon, 50, Prontiera News correspondent
28. Arturo “Art” Betia, Periodico Ini marketing director
29. Rey Merisco, 34, Periodico Ini columnist
30. Fernando “Ranny” Razon, 44, Periodico Ini sales manager
31. Noel Decena, 25, Periodico Ini circulation manager
32. John Caniban, 30, Periodico Ini and Sultan Kudarat Gazette correspondent
33. Jose “Joy” Duhay, Mindanao Gold Star Daily correspondent
34. Ronnie Perante, 43, Mindanao Gold Star Daily and Sultan Kudarat Gazette correspondent
35. Rubello Bataluna, 44, Mindanao Gold Star Daily correspondent
36. Benjie Adolfo, 20, Mindanao Gold Star Daily driver
37. Victor Nuñez, 24, UNTV anchor
38. Jolito Evardo, 27, UNTV cameraman
39. Mac Delbert “Macmac” Arriola, 20, UNTV cameraman
40. Daniel Tiamzon, 52, UNTV driver
41. Santos “Jun” Gatchalian Jr., 51, Mindanao Daily Gazette reporter
42. Lindo Lupogan, 42, Mindanao Daily Gazette publisher
43. Eleanor “Leah” Dalmacio, 38, Soccsksargen News Today publisher and editor
44. Francisco “Ian” Subang Jr., 49, Soccsksargen News Today publisher
45. Romeo Jimmy “Pal-ak” Cabillo, 56, Tacurong Midland Review reporter
46. Ernesto “Bart” Maravilla Jr., Bombo Radyo anchor and reporter
47. Hannibal Cachuela, 51, Manila Star bureau chief and Punto News correspondent
48. Andres “Andy” Teodoro, 59, Central Mindanao Inquirer editor-in-chief
49. Napoleon “Nap” Salaysay, 57, Clear View Gazette publisher and editor
50. Henry Araneta, 44, radio station DZRH Central Mindanao correspondent
51. Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, 54, Manila Bulletin correspondent
52. Anthony Ridao, National Statistics Coordination Board employee and son of Cotabato City councilor Marino Ridao
53. Eduardo Lechonsito, 53, government employee from Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat
54. Cecille Lechonsito, 52, Eduardo Lechonsito’s wife
55. Mercy Palabrica, 32, Eduardo Lechonsito’s co-worker
56. Daryll Vincent Delos Reyes, 28, Eduardo Lechonsito’s co-worker
57. 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)