The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan massacre (after the town where the mass graves were found), occurred on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.
The victims were about to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town. Mangudadatu was challenging part of the national elections in 2010. Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr, son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr, in the forthcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial election.
The 57 people killed included Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy - Wikipedia
The killings on the road leading to Shariff Aguak town have been condemned loudly and vehemently. Not only because of the cruelty and vileness involved, but also because they were carried out with apparent planning and cold-blooded cunning.- Philippine Daily Inquirer Directed and edited by Kiri Dalena. Written and produced by Patricia Evangelista. Voiced by Cheche Lazaro. Aired over ANC.November 23, 2009. This is a story about death in a place they call the Promised Land, where a crescent moon rises with a Christian sun, over a road where 57 men and women were murdered in cold blood.
Under One Sky (Part 1 of 3)
Under One Sky (Part 2 of 3)
Under One Sky (Part 3 of 3)
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maguindanao_massacreUnder One Sky: Patricia Evangelista Kiri DalenaCheche LazaroLaurence Bernabe Rina Jimenez David
Man's cruelty and inhumanity to man never ceases to shock me. Amazingly, I don't recall hearing or reading anything about this horrific crime. I'm pleased to find out that the mentally-ill and cowardly culprits were arrested and charged according. I hope justice prevails. Thank you for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteFor all of history's
ReplyDeletehumbling lessons,
amid fear and a determination
never again to cause
the demise of values, morals,
never again be practitioners
of hate and indifference -
there repeats a time when
we are wont to ask ourselves:
What kind of animals are those
that perpetrated this surreal
and all too real inhumanity
by man towards each other?
However all the advances in technology,
all progress towards a bright future,
there still remain places that may
as well be trapped in a time,
when local lords and their political enemies
slug it out, play Gods amongst
themselves, exceeding lust for power,
and avarice to the detriment of their people.
Violence is always a blot on a
nation’s democratic history.
What unequaled ignominy in
the manner by which these
attacks were carried out!
Women and reporters were among the dead;
some of them were raped and mutilated,
all in broad daylight!
This is an outraged nation
demanding justice and expecting
it to come swiftly from the national leadership,
who has sworn to implement
the law without fear or favor.....
You're welcome, Markus.
I just did some research into this horrific event. It sounds as if this thing was still being investigated/adjudicated, at least as of April. Do you know where it is at this time? May justice prevail.
ReplyDelete--M
Yes, thankfully, a few make
ReplyDeletethat next step
to understand and comprehend.
You are one.
One wonders how unfathomable madness
and moral corruption can still exist
in this day and age....
You might like to be updated
regarding this case:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=610379&publicationSubCategoryId=63