At the time of writing, the number of bodies recovered from the massacre site in Maguindanao had risen to 57, most of them women and 17 journalists. They were in a convoy, on their way to the provincial Comelec office in Shariff Aguak to file the certificate of candidacy of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu when they were brutally killed in broad daylight. The Vice Mayor had sent his wife, two sisters, two women lawyers, and journalists to undertake the mission, thinking that no one would ever perpetrate such a barbaric act on women and journalists. According to reports, the women were slapped, made to eat election forms, and raped. Others were beheaded and were either left sprawled near their vehicles or buried in a hillside mass grave. What could really be the height of impunity was that it seemed that the masterminds were determined to tell the entire world that they are invincible and above the law, and that anyone who dared question their continuing freedom would reap the consequences. The intended victims received earlier death threats. There was the government-owned backhoe with the name of the father of the suspect, Governor Ampatuan, emblazoned, parked near the scene of the crime.

This unprecedented gruesome murder elicited world-wide outrage with the United Nations Secretary-General, world leaders, and human rights and media groups condemning the atrocities in the strongest terms. This heinous crime with the largest group of media personnel killed in a single incident now makes the country the most dangerous place for journalists.

Reports indicate that the gunmen that ambushed the convoy were pro-government militiamen mobilized by the police or the military and who often act as private enforcers of local warlords. This is why Vice Mayor Toto thought it was ridiculous that Mayor Unsay (Andal) who finally spoke, three days after the carnage, would accuse Umbra Kato and the MILF as the perpetrators. Several witnesses said gunmen loyal to Mayor Andal were the ones that stopped the convoy. Earlier, another had heard Andal ordering his men to eliminate the Mangudadatu clan, including the women and children. A large hole was even prepared earlier for the bodies.

Analysts point to “rido” or pride, honor, dignity, or self-esteem as the root cause of the existing feud between these two powerful dynasties, the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus, former allies and blood relatives.

The rido feud was caused by political rivalry. For three terms, the Ampatuans who had remained unopposed were threatened by Toto’s intent to run against Andal in the 2010 gubernatorial election.

We heard about the massacre last Monday evening during the 1st Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma awards while honoring this icon of democracy, and the awardee, former Senate President Jovito Salonga, and the guest speaker, our Ambassador to the United Nations, former Supreme Court Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr., also noted advocates of good governance, human rights, and the rule of law. While celebrating the legacy of these individuals and the recent victories of Manny Pacquiao and CNN hero Efren Peñaflorida, we are again faced with another shameful episode that is difficult to live down. What is going to happen next, is the question that the public wants to know. The government had flexed its muscles by taking Mayor Andal into custody. The Department of Justice assured us that in 36 hours, some firm decisions will be made.

But much more needs to be done, both in the short and long term. First, quick justice and the rule of law must prevail.There will be implications in the nature of the peace talks and a review of existing laws, functions and procedures of law enforcement agencies and local government. We anticipate greater vigilance in the 2010 electoral process as it is common knowledge that much blood in the past had been spilled as a result of political feuds; that dynasties like the Ampatuans had been coddled and allowed to flourish because they delivered the votes on elections. Much should be done is examining the roots of this failure in governance. Much is expected of the leadership in 2010 – in such areas like elimination of political patronage and structures that created “monsters” which had caused this terrible onslaught, thereby ensuring that the carnage of 2009 will never, never happen again. My e-mail is florangel.braid@gmail.com.