How Maguindanao politics set the stage for a massacre

There are few names in the history of Maguindanao that have achieved, for good or ill, full consolidation of political power in the Bangsamoro.   The first one was the old patriarch of Cotabato, Governor Datu Udtog Matalam, and the second was the former governor of Maguindanao, Datu Andal Ampatuan. The former was the recognized lord of the then Empire Province of Cotabato and the latter was the de facto lord of the five provinces that composed the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The now infamous Maguindanao Massacre on November 23, 2009 cut short the reign of the Ampatuan clan both in the province as well as in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. While the Ampatuan clan is no longer a power to reckon with both in the province and in the ARMM, the clan, however, has maintained its hold on political power in its traditional "fiefdom," the municipality of Maganoy (now subdivided into four small municipalities). The Mangudadatu clan has taken the place of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao following Gov. Ismael "Toto” Mangudadatu’s victory in 2010 elections.  Besides the province of Maguindanao, the Mangudadatu clan holds political power in the municipality of Buluan including Lake Buluan (now subdivided into three small municipalities). There are two prominent branches of the Mangudadatu clan. The first is the Buluan branch led by Gov. Toto Mangudadatu, the recognized clan patriarch, notwithstanding his young age. This branch also includes his four brothers – Mayor Jong of Buluan, Mayor Freddie of Mangudadatu and Mayor Sadjid of Pantag and ARMM Assemblyman Khadafi. The other branch of the Mangudadatu clan is the lord of the other side of Buluan Lake presided by former Gov. Pax Mangudadatu. From Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat, this branch is able to capture the political powers both in the province of Sultan Kudarat and in the congressional districts of the province. The old man, Datu Andal Ampatuan, presided over all the ruling clans, including the Mangudadatus, the Masturas, the Sinsuats, the Matalams, and the Midtimbangs, from 2001 to his "downfall" in 2009.   Except for the Candao family that was dislodged by the Ampatuans in 2001 from the seat of power, Datu Andal Ampatuan was recognized as paramount lord not only in all of Maguindanao but also all the component provinces of ARMM.   The split between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus came about when the former refused to share power in the May 2010 elections.  The discussion then was for Toto Mangudadatu to run as "unopposed" vice governor to partner with an Ampatuan successor (selected by the old man) for governor of the province.   The refusal of the younger Ampatuans, particularly Junior, to share power with Mangudadatu forced the Mangudadatus to openly oppose Junior then being groomed by the father to be the next governor of the province. Even in early 2009, when Junior was preparing to run for governor in 2010, there was talk of a possible new political alliance. Initially it was dubbed "the 4 M’s," referring to Mangudadatu, Midtimbang, Matalam and Mastura.  But before this alliance could take off, Datu Andal was able to win the allegiance of the three M’s - Midtimbang, Matalam and Mastura at a political caucus in one of his favorite 5-star hotels in Makati.  The Mangudadatu clan was left isolated. In short, the now infamous Maguindanao massacre should never have happened since electoral victory was assured in the province. All the political cracks in clan politics were neatly resolved thereby ensuring the continued hold of the Ampatuans both in the province and the ARMM. All was well until Junior thought that the mere filing of certificate of candidacy for the position of governor was an affront to the Ampatuan Clan.  Everybody in the province including the Comelec, the AFP and the PNP were on the know that Junior was preparing to do "battle" and by sheer force,  he would "eliminate" Toto Mangudadatu and his followers. The stage was set for this battle. First, Comelec closed its branch in Cotabato City for the purpose and it ruled that the filing for certificates of candidacy had to be completed and done in the provincial Comelec office at the Capitol in Sharif Aguak. Second, the AFP must have been told not to interfere in this purely inter-clan battle by remaining in their post (a little more than four kilometers from the site of the massacre).  And, well, the PNP was literally the "bodyguards" of the Ampatuans. But the tragedy happened when the planned battle never took place. Instead of the equally armed Mangudadatu men, it was the unarmed Mangudadatu women accompanied by media people that appeared on the scene. In a last minute discussion in Buluan, his mother prevailed upon Toto Mangudadatu to allow the Mangudadatu women accompanied by media to file the certificate of candidacy for him. The mother and many others, including myself , believed that Datu Andal, being a real Maguindanao warlord, would respect unarmed women and media people in the convoy.   But another tragedy struck… It was not the ‘Senior’ who was at the scene but the Junior.  Massacre! (Next: Mastura contesting Mangudadatu) – GMA News