I just heard about the Maguindanao Massacre (36 individuals mostly women and several local journalists) by beheading and mutilation in Barangay Masalay, Datu Abdullah Sangki town in Maguindanao of the Maguindanao province.

 

Ismael Toto Mangudadatu planned to run for governor of Mindanao, a region in the southern part of the country. He had been threatened with kidnapping if he filed his nomination papers. So he sent his wife and sisters to do it. The convoy of Mangudadatu supporters, accompanied by journalists, was on its way to an electoral bureau to file documents related to his candidacy.

 

The massacre took place with about 100 gunmen led by Andal Ampatuan Jr., the mayor of Shariff Aguak (a municipality in Maguindanao province), and a police inspector identified solely by the name of Dicay. The governor’s son is also alleged to have been involved in the massacre. The fatalities included Mangudadatu’s wife, sister and other relatives killed in a convoy of 50 supporters.

 

Very few would likely remember that on June 25, 1989, in a small village in Digos, Davao Del Sur, 39 people, many of them children, were mercilessly gunned-down by CPP-NPA rebels while they were attending a Sunday mass. Two of the victims, UCCP Pastor Ruben Ayap and his brother were beheaded for refused to cooperate with the Muslim rebels.

 

The incident which became known as the “Digos Massacre,” captured the national attention back then. The entire country was enraged by the carnage. However, none have taken the matter too seriously except the government. Even the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), later on, in an ironic twist, gravitated towards the left who perpetrated the killings of its flock. It even placed the blame on the government. Eventually, the incident slowly faded in the people’s memory. There was no justice attained.

 

Now, after two decades since the Digos incident, the CPP-NPA continue to perpetrate atrocities without remorse, especially now that they are operating more and more like a criminal gang (or, rather, several dozen separate gangs united by ideology and tactics). Aside from killing civilians opposed to them, they have also ventured into numerous criminal activities like extortion and blackmail, kidnappings and abductions, robbery, violence, intimidation and threats, harassment of locals, persecution of even tourist, raids, and so forth in order to get the money to buy needed supplies weapons and provide for their own families and their unjust cause.

 

Will it take another “Digos Massacre” for the people to act? It has happen already again (2009-11-23), this time it’s known as the Maguindanao Massacre! The fight against the CPP-NPA is not solely the duty of the government. It is the duty of every freedom-loving Filipinos who abhor violence and value justice. If the people will not provide even vocal support, the effort to defeat the rebel-turned bandits will be futile.

 

Communist New People’s Army Murders List - November 23rd of 2009

 

1. Bai Farina Mangudadatu;

2. Bai Eden Mangudadatu;

3. Atty Cynthia Oquindo-Lawyer;

4. Atty Connie Brizuela-Lawyer;

5. Councilor Rasul Daud;

6. Faridah Sabdula;

7. Rowena Mangudadatu;

8. Ayos Sudlang;

9. Abdula Dodong;

10. Divina dela Cruz;

11. Chito (LNU);

12. Henry Araneta-radio reporter;

13. Jimmy Cabello;

14. Jonto (TNU);

15. Juanita Dalim;

16. Mary Ann Calimbol;

17. Ralda Sapalon;

18. Pingky Sulaim;

19. Rahima Palawan;

20. Wahid Sabdula;

21. Lilia del Macio;

22. Patrika Palapay;

23. Victor Munuz &

24. Mamot

25. Victor Nuñez,

26. McDelbert Arriola,

27. Jolito Evardo

28. Daniel Tiamzon

etc…