Maguindanao much better now but pain in heart remains, says Toto Mangudadatu

Significant changes were observed in Maguindanao's political landscape, nearly 10 years after the gruesome massacre in Ampatuan town happened, Representative Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu said on Thursday.

Mangudadatu's wife, Genalyn, was one of the 58 individuals killed in the worst case of election-related violence in the country.

"The leaders, they can run freely [for] whatever position... Everybody are free to run. Very far ang difference sa time ni Andal Ampatuan," Mangudadatu said in a press conference held in Quezon City.

"Very far because during the time of Ampatuan if you are running for a position you need to seek first the patriarch, Andal Ampatuan Sr. If he tells you 'Do not run,' wala kang magawa," he added when asked how different the times were then.

Ampatuan Sr., patriarch of the clan and alleged mastermind of the Maguindanao massacre, passed away due to liver cancer in 2015.

Mangudadatu said that an improvement in press freedom was also observed in the province.

"The journalists are free to cover now," he said.

Genalyn, a few lawyers, members of their staff and dozens of journalists were on their way to the filing of Mangudadatu's certificate of candidacy for governor when they were intercepted and killed on November 23, 2009.

Thirty-two journalists who accompanied the political camp, and six others who were not part of the convoy also died.

Ten years later, the remote and hilly crime scene was already converted into banana fields.

"The time when the massacre happened it's all cogon grass, now it's planted with bananas. There's a banana plantation," private prosecutor Attorney Nena Santos said.

"The road is already cemented, marami nang bahay sa palibot. Bumalik na sila after a while," she added.

The families of the victims are still waiting for the court's decision on the case which will be promulgated on or before December 20.

"The pain is still in my heart. It's really hard for me to regain and utter before the people that I am now in a situation that I can tell 'Nasa maayos na ako.' No, until finally we can get a conviction," Mangudadatu said. —NB, GMA News