It has become customary for elections in the Philippines to engender waves of violence, especially in the province of Maguindanao on the southern island of Mindanao which has been the scene of Muslim unrest in the past, but the massacre of 57 people on November 23 was the single worst instance in the country’s history. This shocking attack targeted female members of the powerful Mangudadatu family as well as the convoy of journalists accompanying them. In total, 18 of the dead were journalists, making this one of the deadliest attacks against members of the profession.
Feuding Clans at War in the Southern Philippines
Authorities moved quickly to deal with the perpetrators, and 20 people connected with the Ampatuan family - the Manguindanao province is governed by its patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. - including the Governor’s son Andal Ampatuan Jr. were arrested in the days that followed.
The political scene in the province of Maguindanao is dominated by two families: the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus, and it is this rivalry which investigators believe to be the reason behind the massacre. The Ampatuan family, which currently controls the province through Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., is facing an challenge in May’s elections from Esmael Mangudadatu.
The Ampatuan organisation is fiercely loyal to President Gloria Arroyo, although the severity of the clampdown against the clan, which, in addition to the arrests has seen a large number of assault weapons and ammunition seized as well as several key members expelled from the party, has served to distance Ms Arroyo’s administration from the family.
Philippine Political Families Backed by Armed Militias
Familial rivalries such as this are not uncommon in the Philippines, where governments have tolerated, and sometimes even supported, the creation of armed militias as a way of dissuading separatist challenges, especially from Muslims who have already been granted several semi-autonomous regions on the southern islands.
The creation of these armed gangs has, however, been the catalyst for election-related violence in the past and has also led to scores being settled in a violent manner.
Police Believe Andal Ampatuan Jr. is Responsible for the Massacre
In the days that followed the massacre authorities in Manila identified Andal Ampatuan Jr. as their chief suspect and he duly surrendered to police protesting his innocence. Ampatuan Jr. has since been charged with multiple counts of murder and appeared in court for the first time on December 18.
This preliminary hearing was understandably an emotionally-charged occasion with the defendant, clad in a bullet-proof vest and flanked by armed security, jeered both by members of the Mangudadatu family and representatives of the local press corps angered by the deaths of their colleagues. Ampatuan Jr. is the most high-profile defendant of the 20 so far charged for the attack, although authorities are believed to be investigating up to 160 people, including more key senior members of the Ampatuan family.
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