1	5	20	Maguindanao, massacre, Mindanao, governor, appeal

Sarangani governor Miguel Rene Dominguez on Monday evening appealed for calm and sobriety in the wake of the massacre in Maguindanao earlier in the day which claimed the lives of more than 40 people including at least 14 journalists.

More government soldiers and police were deployed to the area early Tuesday to arrest growing tension.

Dominguez, who is also president of dominant Philippine political party Lakas-KMMPI-CMD, also offered his sympathy to the families and relatives of the Monday’s gruesome murders. “We express our deepest sympathy to all the innocent victims of the senseless massacre,” the 33-year old governor said.

Dominguez also said he has called local political leaders in the politically charged region in south central Mindanao “to reassure them that the government will ensure impartial investigation.

“The rule of law will be re-established in Central Mindanao.”

On Monday, some heavily armed men reportedly led by a senior police officer blocked a six-vehicle convoy that was on its way to the capital town of Sharif Aguak in Maguindanao. The 45-man team that consist the convoy was later brought to a remote village where they were all killed.

The military and police later said some of the victims were mutilated and the women were raped.

Dominguez said most of the journalists that were also killed were personal friends. “The victims were personal friends of mine both in politics and in the media,” he said.

Politics is believed to be behind the massacre as most of the victims were immediate relatives of Buluan Vice mayor Ismael Mangudadatu who has announced his plans to run for governor in Maguindanao province.

His wife Jennalyn and sisters Farida Sabdula and Eden Mangudadatu, also the mayor of Mangudadatu town, were among the victims. Four other victims were surnamed Mangudadatu.

Maguindanao used to be part of the vast Cotabato empire before it was divided into provinces: Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato and South Cotabato.  South Cotabato was further split into two in 1992 with the creation of Sarangani province.

The Mangudadatus traced their roots in the Buluan town of Maguindanao although one of the siblings of the late Datu Pua Mangudadatu later established its own political clout in Sultan Kudarat.

Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu blamed the Ampatuans in the massacre.

The Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus are former political allies with both Datu Pua Mangudadatu and incumbent Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan becoming mayors of Buluan and Maganoy (now Sharif Aguak) respectively when they were appointed by the revolutionary government of the late President Corazon Aquino.

Aquino was swept into power during the 1986 EDSA revolt.

The warring political clans both belonged to the Lakas-KAMMPI-CMD party of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Dominguez, who was appointed president of the administration party on November 19, said “justice will be served swiftly and decisively and all those responsible will be apprehended.”

Philippine Presidential Adviser to Mindanao Jesus Dureza also condemned the mass killings.

“This is a gruesome massacre unequalled in recent history,” Dureza said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalist in the Philippines (NUJP) on Monday demanded immediate government action and apprehension of the perpetrators.

“Anything less would mean that the impunity that has emboldened those who would silence the press, staining this administration with the worst record of murdered journalists, has spread to embolden those who would subvert our democracy for their own selfish interests,” the NUJP said.

“This incident not only erases all doubts about the Philippines being the most dangerous country for journalists in the world, outside of Iraq, it could very well place the country on the map as a candidate for a failed democracy.”

Among the journalists confirmed killed in the massacre were Manila Bulletin correspondent Bong Reblando, Ian Subang of Dadiangas Times, Marites Cablitas and Gina de la Cruz of Today, Leah Dalmacio of Forum, Neneng Montaño formerly of RGMA and Saksi, Henry Araneta of dzRH, Bombo Radyo Koronadal chief reporter Bart Maravilla, Victor Nuñez of UNTV, and his cameraman identified only as Mac-mac, Joy Duhay, Romy Perante, Andy Teodoro and Jimmy Cabillo.

They were invited to cover the filing of the certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindao of Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu.

Lawyers Cynthia Joquindo and Connie Brizuela were also among those who were slain.