Issue

Issue03
Issue 03
03

MAGUINDANAO
MASSACRE

“deadliest strike against the

press in history”
 NOVEMBER 23, 2009
NEVER FORGET!
ISSUE NO 3

58
MAGUINDANAO

PEOPLE KILLED IN AMPATUAN

TOWN MAGUINDANAO

32
IN NUMBERS

OF THOSE KILLED WERE

MEDIA WORKERS

15
OF THOSE ARE RELATIVES
AND SUPPORTERS

3
OF THOSE ARE LAWYERS

2
OF THOSE ARE VAN
DRIVERS

6
OF THOSE ARE PASSERS BY

NO.3
 THE AMPATUAN MASSACRE ISSUE 3.0

MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE
COUNTDOWN: JUSTICE FOR AMPATUAN 58

INTRODUCTION
The Maguindanao Massacre,
also known as the Ampatuan
Massacre, was a massacre in
Mindanao where 58 victims
were kidnapped and killed
while presenting their
candidacy certificates for
deputy mayor Esmael
Manghdadatu. The victims
included his wife, two
sisters, journalists, lawyers,
aides, and a motorist.
The Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ) ranked the
Philippines as the second
most dangerous country for
journalists, with at least 34
journalists killed in the
massacre. The massacre
remains a significant event in
Philippine journalism.
THE TRIAL AND FACTS OF CASE
On November 23, 2009, 58
people were killed in Ampatuan
town, Maguindanao province,
including 32 journalists, media
workers, lawyers, motorists,
and the wife and sisters of
Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu,
vice-mayor of Buluan town. The
victims were on their way to file
Toto's certificate of candidacy
for the 2010 gubernatorial
elections. The Ampatuans, the
ruling clan in Maguindanao,
were involved in the killings,
with their wife, Genalin,
handling the filing.
The Ampatuans were the ruling
clan in Maguindanao, and their
challenge was news that
concerned both the local
community and the national
public. The convoy led by
Genalin Mangudadatu drove
through a route manned by
police checkpoints, with
officers of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) implicated
in the killings. Datu Unsay was
charged with murder, requiring
the prosecution to prove that
he killed the victims and
ensured impunity.

www.maguindanaomassacre.com
AMPATUAN MASSACRE
HISTORICAL
CONTEXT
The Maguindanao Massacre
(2009)
The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the
Ampatuan massacre, occurred on November 23,
2009, in the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao
province, Philippines. It was the world's worst
single-day murder of media workers and the
worst case of election-related violence in the
country's history. The massacre took place as
relatives of Esmael Mangudadatu, a town mayor,
were heading to the provincial capital to file his
certificate of candidacy as governor. They were
stopped at a checkpoint and subsequently killed
by armed men, allegedly orchestrated by the
powerful Ampatuan clan in response
Mangudadatu's political challenge to their rule.
November 23, 2009
Andal Ampatuan Sr., the patriarch of the Ampatuan
clan, had built a powerful political empire in
Mindanao, and tensions arose when Mangudadatu
aimed to end the Ampatuans' 20-year rule in
Maguindanao. The massacre resulted in 58 deaths,
including 32 journalists and media workers, two
lawyers, and six motorists. The trial involved 107
defendants, including Andal Ampatuan Jr. and
several politically powerful relatives, as well as
police officers and soldiers close to the Ampatuan
family. The trial lasted over nine years, with more
than 300 witnesses and volumes of documents
to presented. The verdict was seen as a significant
moment in the pursuit of justice and the fight against
impunity in the Philippines.
 2009
THE
Maguindanao
m a s s a c r e
No Justice a Decade After Philippines Massacre

Fourteen Years ago, the Maguindanao massacre, also known as

the Ampatuan massacre, was a horrific and violent incident that
occurred on November 23, 2009, in the southern Philippines. In
this brutal attack, 58 people, including 32 journalists and media
workers, were killed in a remote area of Maguindanao province.
details

The victims were traveling in a convoy to file the certificate of

candidacy for an opposition candidate running against the son of
Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., the governor of the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The Ampatuan clan, a powerful
political family with strong influence over local politics and law
enforcement agencies, has been accused of orchestrating the
massacre. The incident sparked international condemnation and
drew attention to the ongoing issue of impunity for human rights
violations in the Philippines. The case is considered one of the
largest massacres of journalists in history and highlights the
dangers faced by journalists working in conflict zones and areas
with powerful political clans. After several years of legal
proceedings, over 100 people have been convicted for their
involvement in the massacre, but some key figures involved in the
attack remain at large or have yet to be sentenced.
 media
media and
and
public
public reaction
reaction

The Maguindanao massacre, a brutal attack on 32 journalists, has garnered significant media and public attention in
the Philippines and internationally. The killings have sparked widespread public outrage, with many calling for justice
and reforms to address the root causes of political violence. Protests have been held in various parts of the Philippines,
including Manila, where thousands of people march to demand accountability and an end to impunity. The incident has
also drew international attention, with the United Nations calling for a thorough investigation and several foreign
governments offering assistance to the Philippine authorities. The massacre has raised concerns about the freedom of
the press and the safety of journalists, with many expressing fear for their safety and calling for greater protection and
support from the government. The incident has also sparked calls for reforms to address the root causes of political
violence, including corruption, impunity, and political patronage networks. These include greater accountability and
transparency in law enforcement, judicial independence, and political institutions, as well as measures to address
poverty, inequality, and social marginalization in areas like Mindanao.
AMPATUAN M A S S A C R E

LEGAL
PROCEEDING
AND JUSTICE
The legal process in the Maguindanao massacre has been long and complex, with several defendants
arrested, charged, and convicted, while others are still awaiting trial or have been acquitted.

Arrests and charges Convictions

Following the incident, several members of the
Ampatuan clan and their associates were
arrested and charged with multiple counts of
murder, frustrated murder, and other crimes.
The list of accused included Datu Andal
Ampatuan Sr., his sons Zaldy and Anwar, and
other members of the Ampatuan clan.
In 2015, a court in Cotabato City convicted 28
defendants, including several members of the
Ampatuan clan, of multiple counts of murder and
other crimes. The convicted defendants were
sentenced to life imprisonment or longer terms.

Trials
The trials have been marked by delays and
allegations of political interference. The first
batch of accused went on trial in 2011, while
subsequent batches have been tried in
subsequent years. As of now, some defendants
have been convicted, while others are still
awaiting trial or have been acquitted.
Acquittals
In 2019, a court in Quezon City acquitted several
defendants, including former President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's husband Mike Arroyo, of
charges related to the massacre. The acquittals
were criticized by some as politically motivated
and raised concerns about the independence
and impartiality of the judiciary.

Appeals
Many of the convicted defendants have appealed their convictions, while others have filed petitions
for bail or other remedies. The legal process in the case remains ongoing, with many observers
calling for greater transparency and accountability in the judicial system to ensure justice for the
victims and their families.
VISUAL: News Clipping
and Memorial
The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the
Ampatuan massacre, took place on November 23,
2009, in the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao
province, Philippines. It was the world's worst single-
day murder of media workers and the worst case of
election-related violence in the country's history. The
massacre resulted in 58 deaths, including 32
journalists and media workers, two lawyers, and six
motorists. The trial involved 107 defendants, including
Andal Ampatuan Jr. and several politically powerful
relatives, as well as police officers and soldiers close
to the Ampatuan family.
The commemoration at the massacre site came three
days ahead of the 13th anniversary of the mass
murders, and two years after COVID-19 pandemic
restrictions prevented them from visiting the site in
Ampatuan town in what is now the new province of
Maguindanao del Sur. The National Union of
Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and Justice Now,
the organization of the victims' families, have been
organizing commemoration events since 2010. The
NUJP counted 58 people – 32 of them media workers
– who were brutally killed and buried in shallow
graves by the private army of Maguindanao’s
erstwhile political warlords on November 23, 2009
The guilty verdict in the trial was seen as a significant
moment in the pursuit of justice and the fight against
impunity in the Philippines. The families of the victims
are still waiting for justice, as some of the
convictions are still under appeal. The massacre
remains a significant event in Philippine history,
symbolizing the struggle for justice and the fight
against political violence and impunity.

www.maguindanaomassacre.com
November 23, 2009
 REFERENCES

MAGUINDANAO
MASSACRE (2009)
CITATION

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. (2019,

December 16). Ampatuan Massacre: The Trial in
summary. MindaNews.
https://www.mindanews.com/topstories/2019/12/ampatua
n-massacre-the-trial-in-summary/

Bolledo, J. (2023, November 24). Sandiganbayan convicts

Andal Ampatuan Jr. of 21 counts of graft. RAPPLER.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/sandiganbaya
n-decision-andal-ampatuan-jr-countsgraft/#:~:text=The
%20Sandiganbayan's%20verdict%20came%20on,murder%2
0over%20the%20gruesome%20massacre.

Jazeera, A. (2019, December 19). Timeline: The

Maguindanao killings and the struggle for justice. Al
Jazeera. The Ampatuan Massacre: Summary of case trial. (n.d.).
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/19/timeline- https://pcij.org/article/3503/the-ampatuan-massacre-
the-maguindanao-killings-and-the-struggle-for-justice summary-of-case-trial

Peña, K. D. (2022, November 23). Maguindanao massacre:

The wound of PH impunity that will never heal | Inquirer
News. INQUIRER.net.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1696507/maguindanao-
massacre-the-wound-of-ph-impunity-that-will-never-
heal

Conde, C. H. (2020, October 28). Masterminds guilty in

Philippines massacre. Human Rights Watch.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/12/19/masterminds-
guilty-philippines-massacre

Lopez, E., & Lema, K. (2019, December 19). Philippine

massacre masterminds jailed for life over 57 murders.
Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-
massacre/philippine-massacre-masterminds-jailed-for-
life-over-57-murders-idUSKBN1YN0CD/

OTHER LINKS
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/23/23/on-
maguindanao-massacre-anniv-andal-ampatuan-gets-up-
to-210-yrs-for-graft

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/18/asia/philippines-
maguindanao-massacre-verdict-intl-hnk/index.html

http://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/12/18/maguin
danao-massacre-what-you-need-to-know.html

https://cpj.org/2019/12/ten-years-justice-maguindanao-
massacre-impunity-journalists/