MANILA, Nov 27 — The massacre of more than 57 people in a Philippine village this week has revealed the friends-turned-foes saga of two powerful clans in the region.
The Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus were once political allies.
The Ampatuans entered Philippine politics in the 1930s. Over the years, they have held various political posts. The man charged in the murders, Andal Ampatuan Jr, was a member of the ruling coalition government of President Gloria Arroyo.
The Mangudadatus started their own reign in Maguindanao politics in 1986. During the administration of former president Cory Aquino, the family patriarch, Datu Pua Mangudadatu, was appointed mayor of Buluan in Maguindanao.
It was said that before he died from an illness, Datu Pua left his politician-children under the care and tutelage of Mr Andal Ampatuan Sr, the family patriarch. The two men had been very close friends.
Both the clans were friendly at one point in time and were considered political allies of Arroyo in the province.
In the 2004 presidential election, Ampatuan Sr allegedly helped Arroyo defeat late actor Fernando Poe Jr. In fact, in some towns, Poe ended up with no votes whatsoever.
In the 2007 elections, despite being overwhelmed by the opposition in many areas in the country, Arroyo’s Team Unity senatorial candidates routed the opposition in Maguindanao.
Explaining his political longevity, Ampatuan Sr once said in an interview: “It’s because of popular support.”
He had entered the political fray for the governorship of Maguindanao province in 2001, and had joined hands with the Mangudadatu clan to topple an incumbent governor from power in Maguindanao province.
Their ties began to fray when the Mangudadatus purportedly blocked the creation of Adam municipality, which was to be culled from the towns that they controlled in the south-eastern tip of the Maguindanao province.
Ties snapped in May this year when it was rumoured that Buluan city vice-mayor Ismael Mangudadatu would run for governor in next May’s elections in Maguindanao.
That seemed like a direct challenge to the Ampatuan family’s hold on power in Maguindanao province, where they control 10 of its 29 towns.
On Monday, Mangudadatu, after receiving death threats, sent his wife and relatives to file his election papers.
The group, which included lawyers and journalists, was massacred en route. — Philippines Daily Inquirer
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Forbid by law, relatives from taking posts formerly held by those in the same family. By creating such networks the Phillipines will never progress far in establishing First World governance and the people will never experience true democracy by a form of * Crypto Monarchy * instead.
Words cannot express the grief and sympathy some of us fighting for more citizen rights and powers elsewhere feel for the citizens in the Phillipines, the socio-political conditions must be so oppressive and primitive, even terrifying there. Poor Phillipinos, hope they will be able to remove such nepotistic and inevitably cronyistic and most likely corrupt structures of family owned towns. Best of luck to the generations becoming more aware of their equality and right to stand as equals with all those 'in power' or 'owning towns' . . .