News Updates - 24 November 2009 (Tuesday)

21 killed in Maguindanao
13 journalists feared dead in massacre
Philippine Daily Inquirer – www.inquirer.net
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

MANILA, Philippines—The first political mass murder of the election season was described as so gruesome and unparalleled in recent years that an aide of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said it required nothing less than the declaration of a state of emergency to avoid more bloodletting.

At least 21 people, including 13 women, lay dead—some of them beheaded and others raped and mutilated, authorities said.

A search was mounted for several dozen others reportedly taken hostage and feared killed in Maguindanao province.

Among those feared dead were 13 media people, the largest group of journalists ever killed in a single incident.

Military and police investigators found a backhoe owned by the Maguindanao provincial government in the killing field planted to corn and coconut, raising the possibility that some of those slaughtered may have been hastily buried in a mass grave.

Buluan Vice Mayor Ishmael “Toto” Mangudadatu said among those killed were his two sisters—Eden, the mayor of Mangudadato town, and Farina—along with his 36-year-old wife Genalyn Tiamzon and legal counsels Cynthia Oquendo and Connie Brizuela.

The victims were in the group that included some 20 other women supporters, accompanied by over 30 journalists, whom Vice Mayor Mangudadatu had tasked to file his certificate of candidacy for him for governor of Maguindanao in the provincial office of the Commission on Elections in Shariff Aguak town when the massacre happened on Monday.

“It was gruesome,” Mangudadatu said in a TV interview, reporting eyewitness accounts of followers who rode a military helicopter that went to the area to investigate.

“I am asking the government to allow the law to take its course,” he said. “The law may be harsh, but it is the law.”

Mangudadatu belongs to a clan that has been engaged in a long-running feud with the Amputuans, who count among its members Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Mangudadatu is running for the post held by Gov. Andal Ampatuan, whose namesake son and Unsay town mayor is seeking to also fill in the May elections.

Unequalled in history

Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza condemned the massacre.

“This is a gruesome massacre of civilians unequalled in recent history. Even women and working mediamen were not spared. I grieve for my friends in the media and all those killed while doing their job,” Dureza said in a statement.

“There must be a total stop to these senseless violence and carnage in the highest form. I strongly recommend that a state of emergency be imposed in the area and everyone be disarmed. Anything less will not work,” he said.

President Macapagal-Arroyo ordered military and police officials “to conduct immediate and relentless pursuit of the perpetrators” and secure the area, Malacañang said in a statement Monday night.

“No effort will be spared to bring justice to the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable to the full limit of the law,” Ms Arroyo said.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said that the dead numbered 21. But Mangudadatu’s office released a list of 36 fatalities.

“More bodies are believed to be buried so efforts to recover them are continuing,” Brawner said.

He said that the 6th Infantry Division, under Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton had been deployed to pursue the kidnappers and possible survivors.

Victims unarmed civilians

“This can already be considered a massacre because the victims were unarmed, helpless civilians and mostly female,” Brawner said.

He said the armed men reportedly consisted of militiamen and supporters of the Maguindanao governor.

Officials said that the Mangudadatu group had set out from Buluan at 9 a.m. for Shariff Aguak. An hour later, at the boundary of Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak towns, 50 kilometers away, armed men stopped the convoy.

The bodies were found 2 kilometers away.

Mangudadatu said that Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the governor’s son, was in the group that stopped his convoy.

Testimony of witnesses

Mangudadatu said there were witnesses who claimed that his sister Eden, apparently sensing trouble, pulled out her knife and stabbed the younger Ampatuan.

The vice mayor said that at around 10 a.m. he received a call from his wife that at least 100 armed men were holding her convoy.

Mangudadatu said Genalyn even complained that one of the armed men, whom she identified as “Ampatuan’s men,” slapped her.

That was the last time the vice mayor heard his wife’s voice. Late Monday afternoon, Genalyn’s body was among those found in the village of Masalay in Datu Abdullah Sangki town in Maguindanao.

“This is very painful but we trust God’s sense of justice. We leave everything to him,” Mangudadatu said.

Buluan Mayor Ebrahim Mangudadatu, the candidate’s brother, said he saw at least 20 bodies scattered in the nearby coconut and corn farming village of Masalay near the national highway.

“The cadavers were riddled with bullets. Some women were obviously raped. The vehicles used were ransacked and all valuables were taken away,” the mayor, who went to Masalay on a helicopter, said.

Ebrahim Mangudadatu said some of the victims were obviously buried. He said a backhoe, which was apparently used to dig the graves, was still in the area.

The backhoe is owned by the provincial government and has the governor’s name printed on it, the Buluan mayor said.

“I was expecting they will not harm them because they were all women. No security escorts were even sent to accompany them as I trust the police and military could protect them,” said Buluan Vice Mayor Ishmael Mangudadatu.

Opponents have no chance

Datu Andal Ampatuan has been elected governor of Maguindanao three times previously, always unopposed, although he resigned earlier this year, apparently to circumvent term limits on elected officials.

Of the 22 mayors in his province, most are sons, grandsons or other relatives.

Two of Ampatuan’s sons have been killed in violence linked to clan wars.

Ampatuan has told reporters that people did not run against him or his family members in elections because they had little chance of winning.

“It’s because of popular support,” he said. “Because I am so loved by the constituencies of the municipalities, they ask me to have my sons as representatives.”

Ms Arroyo has called Ampatuan a valuable ally in the past. In the 2004 presidential elections, she won most of the votes in Maguindanao. In one town, her rivals did not get even a single vote.

Governor in Palace meeting

Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio confirmed that he met with ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, but stressed that this was about Sulu politics—not the political situation in Maguindanao—and was but one of a series of meetings he had with administration stalwarts in the south Monday.

“We’re still trying to get a clear picture of what happened, how it happened, and who are involved,” Claudio told the Inquirer. “But we’re looking upon the situation with alarm, shock, and outrage.”

Claudio said the administration would not “tolerate” the massacre especially if the killings were done by party members.

But Claudio added it was still difficult for the Palace to issue a formal statement on the matter until the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines had come up with a clearer investigation.

“This is something that we look at with urgency,” Claudio said.

In the meeting, Claudio said Ampatuan “accompanied” his lineup of candidates in Sulu led by Rep. Munir Arbison. He said the group was challenging incumbent Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, who is also with the administration.

“They just wanted to get the President’s assurance, the party’s assurance, our assurance, that they’re going to have a fair shake, the same treatment from the party,” Claudio said. With reports from Jocelyn R. Uy, Christian V. Esguerra, Inquirer Mindanao, Reuters


Maguindanao death toll rises to 22—military
Agence France-Presse
www.inquirer.net
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

MANILA, Philippines – The death toll from an attack on a group of journalists and politicians in the lawless southern Philippines has risen to 22 with the recovery of one more body, the military said Tuesday.

The victims were among a group of more than 40 people abducted by gunmen linked to a powerful politician on the southern island of Mindanao on Monday.

"We have recovered 22 bodies," military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Romeo Brawner told Agence France-Presse. "Most of the bodies bore gunshot wounds."

Brawner said the group had been abducted by gunmen linked to Andal Ampatuan, leader of a powerful political clan in the area, and that the kidnap victims included the wife of his rival, Esmael Mangudadatu.

He said the military was searching for the other people still missing, as well as hunt down the gunmen.


List of victims in Maguindanao massacre
Philippine Daily Inquirer – www.inquirer.net
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

MANILA, Philippines—Following is an initial list of those abducted and feared killed as provided by Maguindanao gubernatorial aspirant, Vice Mayor Ishmael “Toto” Mangudadatu of Buluan town:

1. Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, the vice mayor’s wife
2. Eden Mangudadatu, the vice mayor’s sister and mayor of Mangudadatu town
3. Farida Sabdula, the vice mayor’s youngest sister
4. Rowena Mangudadatu
5. Manguba Mangudadatu
6. Farida Mangudadatu
7. Farina Manguidadatu
8. Lawyer Cynthia Oquendo
9. Oquendo’s father
10. Lawyer Connie Brizuela
11. Wahida Ali Kaliman
12. Zoraida Vernan
13. A certain Unto
14. Zaida Abdul
15. Pinky Balayman
16. Ella Balayman
17. Rahima Piopo
18. Meriam Calicol
Media practitioners:
19. Ian Tublan
20. Leah Dalmacio
21. Gina dela Cruz
22. Marites Cabutas
23. Bart Maravilla-Bombo Radyo Koronadal
24. Joy Duay
25. Henry Araneta-dzRH
26. Andy Teodoro
27. Bong Reblando, Manila Bulletin
28. Mac-mac Areola
29. Jimmy Cabillo
30. Nening Montaño-dxCP
31. Victor Nuñez
Drivers:
32. A certain Chito
33. Abdula Hajdi
34. Rasul Daud, driver of Rep. Pax Mangudadatu
35. Eugene Dohilyo
36. Patrick Pamansan



Maguindanao Vice Gov wife, women raped, murdered, mutilated; journalist team killed
Ampatuans, goons linked to gory massacre; 36 dead
By Mario J. Mallari
The Daily Tribune – www.tribune.net
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

An ambush, involving some 40 persons, 36 of them killed as of press time, resulting in women being raped, killed and mutilated by a group of deputized militia identified with Maguindano Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., rocked Maguindano politics yesterday morning.

The wife of a Maguindanao gubernatorial bet, who is rival of Ampatuan for the seat, along with some supporters and journalists were reported dead, with some bodies still being unearthed as of press time.

The gubernatorial bet pointed to the incumbent governor and his clan as being behind the gruesome electoral murders.

The group that was massacred included local executives who were to file their certificates of candidacy and media practitioners who were invited to cover the event. They were first reported abducted, along with an initial 21 of whom were said to have been killed by some 100 armed men, allegedly led by a town mayor, in Maguindanao province yesterday morning.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner confirmed the reported abduction of the group of Bai Genalyn Mangudadatu, wife of Buluan municipal Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, and his sister Bai Eden Mangudadatu, the incumbent vice mayor of Mangudadatu town.

They were reportedly intercepted along Sitio Crossing in (some text missing) male. But more bodies were found sprawled in the Maguindanao road where they were massacred.It is believed that no one survived the massacre.

Reports said Esmael Mangudadatu asked his wife to file his certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao, believing that if women were with the party, the group would not be harmed by Amapatuan’s armed group.

The Mangudadatus, along with some supporters aboard a Toyota Hilux, Hi-Ace and a Land Rover, were reportedly stopped along the checkpoint in the boundaries of Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak towns by more or less 100 armed men, allegedly led by Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan.

Esmael Mangudadatu, in a radio interview, claimed some of the kidnapped victims have been killed, some beheaded, by their abductors, composed of some local police and civilian volunteers and the women raped before they were killed.

The group of Mangudadatu, which include lawyers Cynthia Oquendo and Connie Brizuela and some 30 local media practitioners, were reportedly brought near a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) camp in Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town.

“The checkpoint was manned by joint forces of the PNP (Philippine National Police), SCAA (Special Cafgu Active Auxiliary) and a certain Mayor Ampatuan, we don’t know yet who is that mayor. We heard that there were already some people killed…we cannot release any statement because the situation is very tense,” said a source.

As of press time yesterday, there was no confirmation from both the military and police as to what really transpired in Maguindanao province.

Army 6th Infantry Division (ID) chief Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton said they already deployed troops, supported by armor vehicles, to check on the reported abduction.

For his part, Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade chief Brig. Gen. Medardo Geslani said the military is still verifying the reports about the incident but stressed he already dispatched troops to the area to join the operations along with the PNP to check on the situation.

“Our army troopers have reached the area where the vehicles and those held were taken... they were shot by the armed men,” Major General Alfredo Cayton said in a radio interview.

“We have recovered 21 bodies. Our men are continuing to scour the area to find the others.”

Cayton said he could not yet confirm who carried out the killings.

But armed forces spokesman Brawner said earlier that gunmen linked to a powerful politician had seized 40 people, including his political rivals and 20 local journalists.

Among those taken were the wife of a mayor in Maguindanao province, Esmael Mangundadatu, his aides and supporters, according to Brawner.

“We have alerted our troops to conduct pursuit operations. This is a law enforcement operation,” he told AFP before Cayton reported the 21 deaths.

The Mangundadatu clan is known to have a long-running feud with the family of Maguindanao’s incumbent Gov. Andal Ampatuan, who police say is known to control his own private army.

Brawner said there were about 100 gunmen, most of whom were militiamen deputized as government guards by Ampatuan’s family.

Brawner said the leader of the militiamen who staged the kidnapping was one of Ampatuan’s sons. Ampatuan was not immediately reached for comment.

Revenge killings and clashes among rival political families are common in Maguindanao and other parts of Mindanao island, where unlicensed firearms proliferate and parts of which are lawless.

Islamic militants on Mindanao have also been waging a separatist rebellion for decades.

Magudadatu said in interviews yesterday that the military has recovered the bodies of his wife, Genalyn and 35 others. He said his wife was raped and then killed. He also said that the hostages -- at least some of them -- were beheaded and mutilated.

The others who were found dead, according to Eshmael, were his lawyers Cynthia Oquendo and Connie Brizuela; Mr. Oquendo, the father of Cynthia; Bai Eden Mangudadatu, sister of the vice mayor; Rowena Mangudadatu; Manguba Bai Mangudadatu; and Farida Mangudadatu and the vice mayor’s sister.

In the group were a number of journalists. They have been listed as as Ian Tublan, Leah Dalmacio, Gina dela Cruz, Marites Cabutas, Bart Maravilla of Bombo radyo Koronadal; Joy Duay; Henry Araneta of DZRH; Andy Teodoro; Bong Reblando of Manila Bulletin; Mac-mac Areola; Jimmy Cabillo; and Nening Montano of DXCP.

There were also the supporters and staff of Eshmael.

Mangudadatu was quoted as saying that some of the victims were buried, using a backhoe, which he pointed out came from the provincial government.

Mangudadatu is running for a post held by the Ampatuans. Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., is said to be replace his father, Andal, who can no longer run for the post.

At the time of the massacre, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan were in Manila for an emergency meeting with Secretary Gabby Claudio.

The Ampatuans are loyal allies of President Arroyo.

Malacañang yesterday condemned in the strongest possible sense the violent murders in Maguindanao.

Local authorities initially ruled that the incident is election-related as reports claimed that the group of people who were abducted and slain was on the team of Mayor Mangandadatu.

“We are strongly condemning this (incident). We are still far from the election period and as much as we are campaigning, trying our best to have a peaceful and orderly election, incidents like these happen even before the campaign period starts,” Deputy Presidential Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said.

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Claudio, meanwhile, added: “We are still trying to find out the facts. We are in shock and in total outrage. Justice will (be) served and the perpetrators punished whoever they are.”

Fajardo said they are yet to give a definite statement regarding the matter as they are still trying to get initial reports from the Philippine National Police (PNP) as of press time.

She, however, said this should already serve as stern warning to the PNP, AFP and the Commission on Elections (Comelec to further tighten security measures so as to avoid the same incident from happening again.

Former Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, meanwhile, hinted that a state of emergency may be warranted owing to the incident.

“This is a gruesome massacre of civilians unequaled in recent history. Even working women, mediamen were not spared. There must be a total stop to this senseless violence. I strongly recommend that a state of emergency be imposed in the area and everyone be disarmed. Anything less will not work,” Dureza said in a statement.

The President condemned in the strongest terms the violence in Maguindanao in a belated statement.

She directed the AFP through Secretary Norberto Gonzales and the police through Secretary of Interior and Local Government Ronaldo Puno to order their units to conduct immediate and relentless pursuit of the perpetrators, to secure the affected areas.

The President ordered Acting Secretary Gonzales, and the Acting Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Rodrigo Maclang to proceed to Maguindanao tomorrow morning to personally oversee military action against the perpetrators of these dastardly acts.

“No effort will be spared to bring justice to the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable to the full limit of the law. Civilized society has no place for this kind of violence, the President said, as she assured that the rule of law will be restored in the area, and the lawless elements neutralized.

With Aytch S. De la Cruz


Political violence flares
40 people taken by armed men in Maguindanao
By Malu Cadelina Manar, Ali Macabalang
Manila Bulletin – www.mb.com.ph
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Some 100 armed men abducted Monday morning the wife of a would-be gubernatorial candidate in Maguindanao, including two of her lawyers and 34 local media practitioners who were accompanying them in a six-car convoy.

Malacañang immediately condemned the reported abduction and directed security forces to restore peace and order in the area.

Those taken at gunpoint were Genalyn Mangudadatu, wife of former Buluan Mayor Toto Mangudadatu, a gubernatorial aspirant in Maguindanao, lawyers Connie Brizuela and Cynthia Oquindo, and local newsmen that joined Mangudadatu’s convoy in going to Shariff Aguak town, the capital of Maguindanao, to file election documents in the provincial election office.

Also with the group was Baluan Vice Mayor Eden Mangudadatu, sister of the former mayor.

The former mayor was set to file his certificate of candidacy in Shariff Aguak but instead of him, he asked his wife to file copies of his CoC, during which the armed men snatched the occupants of the three-vehicle convoy along the national highway.

Genalyn, according to Mangudadatu, was with Brizuela and 34 media practitioners, including Bong Reblando, Henry Araneta, Bart Maravilla, local newspaper publisher Andy Teodoro and print reporter Maritess Cablitas.

Also in the group from General Santos City were Victor Nunez, Joey Duhay, Ronnie Quirante, Marites Tubang, Gina dela Cruz, and Leah Dalmacio.

Six of the Cotabato City-based journalists, on the other hand, were named as Jenny Cabiles, Neneng Montano, Napoleon Salaysay, Ann Acosta, Val Cachuela, and Fernando Rain.

Joseph Jubilag, one of the invited newsmen supposed to go with the group, said his colleagues went ahead with the Mangudadatus aboard six vans because he and two others were using his own vehicle.

Jubilag said he had talked with Reblando at about 9:30 a.m. who told him that the convoy of six vans was cruising the highway along Ampatuan, the next town to Shariff Aguak.

“Ten minutes later, I could no longer contact him or any of our colleagues from Gen. Santos City. We and Toto (the gubernatorial aspirant) later received reports that the six vans were flagged down by more or less 100 armed men,” Jubilag said.

The Bulletin tried but fail to get confirmation from civilian and police authorities.

Even the mobile phone of Muslim Mindanao police director Paisal Umpa kept ringing but went unanswered in three separate dial attempts.

Toto said he was so worried about the plight of the invited journalists as well as that of his wife, sisters and other relatives because he received reports that all the six vans were razed to the ground.

He said he was also informed that six of the people belonging to the convoy were killed, two of them were journalists.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said the police and military have been ordered to arrest the gunmen who seized the group.

“We strongly condemn this incident considering the elections are still far away. The campaign period has not even started and yet we have this incident already,” she told reporters in the Palace.

Fajardo said the reported abduction of a political group by another rival political clan in Maguindanao should jolt the government as well as the poll body “to tighten security measures to minimize this kind of incidents.”

She asserted that the government is trying its best to ensure peaceful and orderly elections especially since this will be the first automated democratic exercise.

“The police should immediately identify the people behind this incident to show the public that we don’t tolerate such violence,” she added.

Mangudadatu, the gubernatorial aspirant, in an interview over Catholic-run DXND in Kidapawan City said his last contact with his wife was around 9:30 a.m. Monday, an hour after her convoy left Buluan town around 8:30 a.m.

By 11:30 a.m., Mangudadatu said he received very disturbing reports that six of the members of the convoy were already beheaded by the armed men.

“I don’t know if my wife, Jijie, was one of those beheaded. The beheading was confirmed by our people in the area,” he said during the interview.

Authorities have yet to confirm the beheading reports. Initial attempts to contact the Maguindanao police, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, and the intelligence community were futile as none of the officials have given information as regards the abduction and supposed beheadings.

The rift between the Mangudadatus and Ampatuan clan in the province intensified early in 2009 when Toto Mangudadatu declared his intention to run against Datu Andal Ampatuan in the gubernatorial race.

“I just want changes in the political landscape of Maguindanao that’s why I’m running,” he said.

Mangudadatu has called on authorities, including General Ompa, chief of the Maguindanao PNP and Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton of the 6th ID, and other military and police officials to help him rescue his wife Genalyn and 40 others.

“Nakababahala na ang sitwasyon dito sa Maguindanao. Sana makatulong kayo sa amin,” Mangudadatu told police and military officials in Maguindanao.



Army, rebels hurt in Catanduanes clash
By Cet Dematera
The Philippine Star – www.philstar.com
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines – At least six Army troopers and scores of communist rebels were wounded in a 40-minute bloody encounter at around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday in Barangay Guiamlong in Caramoran, Ca-tanduanes, the Bicol Army spokesman confirmed yesterday. 

Capt. Rasaleigh Bansawan, spokesman of the Army’ 901 Brigade based in Villa Hermosa, Daraga, Albay, identified the wounded as Capt. Felix Reodique, Privates First Class Victor Robianes and Lope Abanil; Privates Juvy Cerdon and Ryan Toldanes, and Civilian Auxiliary Aide Juanito Lucero.

Bansawan said the wounded troopers were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals, and were set to be airlifted to mainland Bicol in Albay or Camarines Sur for further treatment.

The spokesman, however, clarified that all six were already declared out of danger.

The encounter ensued when a group of heavily armed rebels waylaid the Army group who was about to conduct a civic action and barangay visitations in Caramoran town.

Also, he denied reports of dead soldiers in the encounter, but instead said that heavy casualties were also inflicted to the rebel side as traced from the bloodstains found on their escape routes towards the town’s hinterlands.


‘Reds murdered Danny Yang’
By Paul M. Gutierrez
People’s Journal – www.journal.com.ph
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

THE investigation of the June 24 assassination of Laguna Board Member Danilo “Danny” Yang took another twist after the highest military official in Southern Tagalog said he was killed by the New People’s Army.

At the induction of the local chapter of the Reserve Officers League of the Philippines in San Pablo City last Saturday where he was the guest speaker, Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia, Army 2nd Infantry Division commander, caused a stir among the audience.

“I am talking as an intelligence officer: Board Member Yang was killed by the NPA,” he said.

Segovia was former chief of the Intelligence Service Group of the Army before he assumed as 202nd Brigade commander in San Pablo City.

Segovia was narrating their success in driving out the NPA from the city and nearby areas when he commented on the killing of Yang, president of the Laguna Councilors League of San Pablo City.

Yang, secretary general of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas and protégé of national security adviser and concurrent Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, was widely perceived to easily win as city mayor in the 2010 elections.

He was in the hit list of the NPA since 2005 for alleged gross human rights violation and other “counter-revolutionary” activities.

Segovia ’s statement confirmed the information earlier reported by People’s Journal from a highly-placed source at the Southern Luzon Command that communist rebels plotted and carried out Yang’s killing.

Yang was shot dead by five suspects armed with .45 pistols while guesting at a fiesta celebration in Barangay Bautista, San Pablo City.