Philippines Massacre: Containing the crisis - Part 1

			Philippines, massacre, aftermath, crisis

In the first of a two-part series, Philippines press secretary Jesus G. Dureza recollects his four critical days in Maguindanao following the brutal slaughter of at least 57 people, including 30 journalists. 

DAY ONE - November 23 (Monday)

I was monitoring closely reports about a missing convoy in Maguindanao with media friends. Later in the day,  reports of mass murder of the Mangudadatus were confirmed, allegedly by Datu Unsay Ampatuan Jr. et al. My instincts told me this could very well be a very explosive situation. When media called, I said I would recommend proclaiming a state of emergency.  At 8pm SND Bert Gonzales and I met. He told me  the President had directed that I act as “crisis manager”.

DAY TWO – November 24 (Tuesday) 

Bert and I took  the earliest flight to Gen Santos City.  At  the 601^st brigade in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat,  briefings were held. Initial photos of the carnage were flashed on the screen. Gruesome! Next we met with the Mangudadatus, many of them my personal friends. 

They were tense and angry. They wanted to retrieve the bodies immediately.  They demanded justice, immediately.  The Ampatuans did it, they said. After Bert and I expressed the government’s resolve to do everything possible, Toto Mangudadatu said they will cooperate. No retaliatory action but government must give justice.

12 NOON – A teleconferencing call connected Bert and me to the Palace where the President [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo] was presiding over a hastily called security meeting.  We were getting  specific instructions from her. So did Bert, PNP Chief Jess Versoza and AFP Vice CS Maclang who arrived with us.  Her voice had that sense of urgency.  Inputs  from the other cabinet members were also relayed.

1pm – The crisis management committee was activated. Assisting me were Eastmincom Gen Ferrer and  PNP 12 Director Serapio. 

2pm – Bert left to fly back to Manila.  Col Geslani, brigade commander assisted in setting up the command center.  It was at this time that I operationalized an action plan I quietly  formulated in my mind.  It was a simple plan drawing lessons from past experiences.  

3pm – Having talked with the Mangudadatus, I decided to go see the Ampatuans in Shariff Aguak. I felt confident. Both families were my friends. And I had direct access to them.   With my staff and without military escorts, except for one military officer Col Macario as guide, I motored to the Ampatuan residence.  

3pm – I entered the Ampatuan fenced premises and the patriarch Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr was there waiting for me. With him seated in a “ bahay kubo” on the sprawling grounds were several ARMM and Maguindanao officials and relatives. Armed followers were everywhere.

After informing Gov. Andal that my purpose in coming was because of the incident and that his son,  Mayor Datu Unsay Ampatuan, Jr.  was implicated, I told “Bapa” Andal that it would be best that the Ampatuans also “cooperate”.  

I said that Datu Unsay  should submit to  an investigation. He immediately said: “ OK. Kausapin mo sya. Ipatawag ko si Datu Unsay. Basta kayo secretary walang problema”. [TRANSLATION: "OK. Talk to him.  I will summon Datu Unsay. Because it is you Secretary, I have no problem.]

I told him I wanted to see Datu Unsay as I got reports that he was missing or had escaped. Bapa said: “Hindi yan totoo. Darating si Datu Unsay. Magpakita sya sayo secretary”. [TRANSLATION: "That's not true. Datu Unsay is coming.  He will meet you, Secretary."]  Bapa Andal as usual, was a man of few words. We then went inside the house to wait for the son’s arrival.

In the meantime, ARMM Gov Zaldy Ampatuan and Cong. Digs Dilangalen arrived from the airport.  Usec Zam Ampatuan, Atty Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, among others were there too.  I felt a bit tense and uncomfortable.  I did not want to start talking about the incident until Unsay would arrive. We were chatting for about an hour trying to divert the issue and loosen up. A lively conversation centered on how many children some of their relatives had. One relative had 70 children. Of course from several mothers. Etc.

4:30pm – We waited.   I noticed that Atty. Cynthia  was using her cellphone and taking pictures while we were chatting.  Unsay arrived and  got seated on my left. We continued a bit about our light banter until Unsay settled down.   (GMA7 later that same evening showed some  pictures on TV. My wife Beth texted me and called my attention  immediately when she saw it: “Bakit ka smile  kasama mga Ampatuan. [TRANSLATION: "Why are you smiling with the Ampatuan?"]  Not proper.”  I agreed. But I was puzzled where the pictures came from and who sent them. There were no media people around. I surmised Cynthia did it.

5pm – I was becoming worried that darkness would overtake my return trip to Sultan Kudarat. Many armed and uniformed men on the highway. One could not tell what group or unit. So when Unsay got seated, I immediately told him that I came because of the serious incident and that initial reports mentioned his name as involved. I told him my purpose in coming was only to be assured that he would cooperate and submit himself to any investigation. He looked at the direction of Gov Andal who spoke first: “Gaya ng sinabi ko sayo kanina, magcooperate kami, secretary” [TRANSLATION: "Like I told you earlier, we will cooperate secretary"]. Then Unsay himself echoed saying: “Mag cooperate po kami secretary” [TRANSLATION: "We will cooperate secretary"].  I then stood up and said I would contact them again soon.

We arrived in Marbel already dark and stayed there for the night.

Read the second and concluding part of this article here at AsianCorrespondent tomorrow.

Note: The above text is from a Philippines government press release. AsianCorrespondent.com does not normally publish press releases, but we felt this is a particularly interesting account of the aftermath of the massacre.

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(Note: Dureza had successfully handled past crises situations notably the “detention”   by MNLF Saber Malik of Marine Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino and OPAPP Usec Ramon Santos in Sulu in 2007; the handover of Misuari from Malaysian authorities to face rebellion charges in 2002; the surrender of convicted priest-killer escapee Manero in 2001; the release of Gen. Obillo and Capt. Montealto by NPA Commander Parago with the Capalla humanitarian team in 1999; the Cebu Pacific plane crash in Misamis Oriental in 1998; the Mindanao El Nino crisis in 1998; the Davao Penal Colony hostage situation in 1998.)